As Rime Sbai exhibited her painting collection “Sound of Colors” at the 26th Fez Sacred Music Festival earlier this month, the young visual artist selected the art pieces that represent music and dance — and dovetail nicely with the festival vibe.
“I have started painting since I was a child,” said Sbai. In university, Sbai studied business and studio art, and she first entered the business field after graduation. “I worked in consulting, but then I liked the art world much more. Now it has been four years, it’s my full-time job.”
In Sbai’s innovative artworks, an intense burst of energy emerges from the bold experiment with colors and strokes. “The style of my artwork is a combination of pop art and naive,” said Sbai. “Something that you’ll find in all my collections is the use of colors. I like to use bright colors, and I always like to include the faces and eyes.”
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Sbai’s artist statement claims that art for her “is not just a splash of colors on a canvas.” It is, rather, “a means of communication that allows her to share her thoughts and embark people in her universe.” Art is a balanced and transformed space for Sbai, with less limitations, where people can fully be themselves, where tradition and modernity connect.
Her art universe expands from canvas to denim jackets, containers, and handbags, allowing visual arts to embrace people’s everyday life. She also explores essential figures in the art world, including Mona Lisa, Van Gogh, and Salvador Dalí, with her distinct style.
When Sbai shared the inspiration for the “Sound of Colors” exhibition, she said “It represents some scenes of music. Some of them are from Moroccan cultures, like Malhun and belly dancers.”
One of the canvas paintings in the showcase is a large art piece portraying a belly dancing scene, with a dancer in red bedlah – a traditional belly dance costume – and a golden scarf, surrounded by instrumentalists.
While presenting her artistic creations at the Fez Sacred Music Festival, Sbai also appreciated the music performances by Moroccan and other international musicians at the event. Sbai especially enjoyed the “Ibrahim Maalouf Invites Haïdouti Orkestar” show on June 6, which collaborated with belly dancings.
“I hope more people will come and enjoy this festival ambience” Said Sbai, expressing her excitement about participating in the music fest.
