Artist Zaweah presents a selection of bold and vibrant abstract paintings inspired by a lifelong fascinating with process and structure. Visit his website to see more.
“Untitled” mixed media on corrugated paper, 20cm x 25cm
I have drawn for as long as I can remember. As a child, I was always sketching—sometimes quietly hiding my drawings between the pages of my schoolbooks so my father wouldn’t notice. He worried that art might distract me from my studies. He wanted me to be educated and secure in a difficult world. Looking back, I understand that it came from love and responsibility. Even then, drawing felt natural to me. It wasn’t something I chose; it was simply how I understood the world.
“Contained Fire I” mixed media on stretched canvas, 30cm × 30cm
As a teenager, I began working with watercolor and Chinese ink. I had the good fortune to study under the guidance of El Azhar. His mentorship gave me a strong foundation in discipline, observation, and respect for craft. I exhibited for the first time at a young age and received early encouragement that confirmed my path.
“Contained Fire V” mixed media on stretched canvas, 25cm × 30 cm
In 1988, I moved from Morocco to Sweden. Although life circumstances led me to study Design Engineering rather than fine art, that education shaped my thinking in unexpected ways. Precision, structure, and problem-solving became part of my visual language. Even outside the studio, I remained connected to drawing and design.
“Genesis” mixed media on stretched canvas, 50cm × 61 cm
After a long pause of many years, I returned to painting with renewed focus and clarity. One of the first works I created during this period was a piece titled Genesis. It marked a personal beginning—a return to the studio and to myself as an artist. That painting was later awarded in an international contest in London in 2021, but more importantly, it reminded me why I paint. It gave me back a sense of freedom and love for the process, and from that moment, I knew I would not stop again.
“Axis of Memory” mixed media on stretched canvas, 50cm × 61 cm
Today, I work primarily with mixed media on canvas, wood panel, and corrugated paper. My process is built on layering, scraping, and controlled erosion—adding and removing material until the surface carries its own history.
“Contained Fire IV” mixed media on stretched canvas, 30cm × 30 cm
I’m interested in restraint as much as expression, and in creating works that hold energy rather than release it. My recent series, Contained Fire, continues this exploration of tension, depth, and presence through accumulated layers and quiet intensity.
“Contained Fire III” mixed media on stretched canvas, 30cm × 30 cm
Painting remains what it was when I was a child: a necessary act, a way of listening and responding to the world around me.
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