{"id":1094,"date":"2021-07-12T16:55:00","date_gmt":"2021-07-12T16:55:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/al-rawiya.com\/?p=610"},"modified":"2023-07-07T07:08:36","modified_gmt":"2023-07-07T07:08:36","slug":"hamza-mekdad-redefining-interdisciplinary-art","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/al-rawiya.com\/ar\/hamza-mekdad-redefining-interdisciplinary-art\/","title":{"rendered":"Hamza Mekdad: Redefining Interdisciplinary Art"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t<div data-elementor-type=\"wp-post\" data-elementor-id=\"1094\" class=\"elementor elementor-1094\" data-elementor-post-type=\"post\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-5e1d7ec0 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"5e1d7ec0\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-33bbefc3\" data-id=\"33bbefc3\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-3cdf077 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"3cdf077\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/al-rawiya.com\/wp-content\/plugins\/elementor\/assets\/images\/placeholder.png?w=800&#038;ssl=1\" title=\"\" alt=\"\" loading=\"lazy\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-11501d4 elementor-widget elementor-widget-video\" data-id=\"11501d4\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-settings=\"{&quot;video_type&quot;:&quot;hosted&quot;,&quot;controls&quot;:&quot;yes&quot;}\" data-widget_type=\"video.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-hosted-video elementor-wrapper elementor-open-inline\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<video class=\"elementor-video\" src=\"https:\/\/al-rawiya.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/Al-Rawiya-Anmiated-Poster.mp4\" controls=\"\" preload=\"metadata\" controlsList=\"nodownload\"><\/video>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-7a607b8 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"7a607b8\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><em>Credits: [Photo\/Animation: Issue 3 cover art by Hamza]<\/em><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-4e6c2e48 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"4e6c2e48\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n<p class=\"has-drop-cap\">Breathing life into static imagery, interdisciplinary artist <a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/thehamza\/?hl=en\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Hamza Mekdad<\/a>\u00a0creates engaging 2D illustrations and animations by combining minimalism with strategic coloring, kinetic typography, line art, symbolism, and sound. Communicating concise messages through visual storytelling, he touches on personal and universal themes associated with the mental, social, political, and historical subject matter. Mekdad\u2019s creative power lies in his ability to deconstruct complex notions into simple, relatable artwork.<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Growing up in the suburbs of Beirut, Hamza attended the Lebanese American University (LAU) to study architecture, something he had been interested in since childhood. Realizing that he was more interested in the arts rather than technical engineering, he considered transferring to graphic design. Since he was already experienced and well-rounded in the field, Hamza finally settled on communication and media studies and graduated in 2014 with a double major in theatre and film.<br \/><br \/>Following his graduation, Mekdad worked in theatre in roles including set designer, stage manager, and technical director. In 2017, he ventured into film as an on-screen actor for the first time starring in the hauntingly poetic Lebanese film\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.imdb.com\/title\/tt7385556\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Martyr<\/a>. Set between Beirut\u2019s Corniche and Khanda Al Ghamee, the movie is a portrait of Hassane, played by Mekdad, who set out to the beach with his friends to blow off steam after losing his job. While diving off the Corniche\u2019s seaside promenade, he tragically drowns, leaving his friends with the responsibility to carry his lifeless body from the water to his parents\u2019 house.<\/p>\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><\/figure>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-2b055d2 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"2b055d2\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-4afe019\" data-id=\"4afe019\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-fcb7b62 elementor-widget elementor-widget-video\" data-id=\"fcb7b62\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-settings=\"{&quot;youtube_url&quot;:&quot;https:\\\/\\\/www.youtube.com\\\/watch?v=v_2rjitmTI8&quot;,&quot;video_type&quot;:&quot;youtube&quot;,&quot;controls&quot;:&quot;yes&quot;}\" data-widget_type=\"video.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-wrapper elementor-open-inline\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-video\"><\/div>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-ee6e833 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"ee6e833\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><em>Credits: Martyr Trailer<\/em><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-67ec671 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"67ec671\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-4046a1d\" data-id=\"4046a1d\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-8c5957e elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"8c5957e\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Raw, sensual, and subtly homoerotic, the masterfully choreographed film is a performative tableaux vivant (living picture) that carefully studies mourning, the fragility of male intimacy in the Arab world, and the sacred Islamic rituals taken when one transcends. Hamza\u2019s performance was hypnotizing. Whether floating still in the meditative underwater scenes or through the soul-stirring dance number, the sensual theatrics prevail with a peculiar and reflective perspective on desire, the body, and the human connection. In preparation for the role, Mekdad spent a year going through introspective work, character building, and trust-building exercises alongside director Mazen Khaled and his co-stars to master the eerily familiar and emotionally stimulating sequences. \u201cI was either acting like someone who was suicidal, or I was acting like a corpse. I felt empty for three months, and it changed me a lot, I think.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>When asked if he would act again, Hamza responded with, \u201cI think with the right script, I would act again. I never thought I would go into a commitment this big until I read the script. It was amazing. And I never had so much respect for acting before that, honestly.\u201d\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Martyr premiered at the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.labiennale.org\/en\/cinema\/2017\">74th Venice International Film Festival<\/a> in 2017 and is the first Lebanese film to get funded by the Venice Biennale College Cinema Program, recounted Hamza. A self-censored version of the movie was screened in Lebanon and Egypt to avoid any chances of it getting banned or cut.<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>In the same year that Mekdad shot the movie, he worked at <a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/bardobeirut\/?hl=en\">Bardo<\/a>, the oldest gay bar in Beirut. Starting as the DJ, he quickly took on the community manager position and became the lead designer for their visual content. He also planned different events and collaborations with clubs like Discotek. Gaining experience in scenography, costume design, lighting design, photography, editing, and motion graphics, among other creative expressions, Hamza has had the opportunity to work in many roles in performing arts and design.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-c9efdcb elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"c9efdcb\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-779cb56\" data-id=\"779cb56\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-093a057 elementor-widget elementor-widget-video\" data-id=\"093a057\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-settings=\"{&quot;video_type&quot;:&quot;hosted&quot;,&quot;controls&quot;:&quot;yes&quot;}\" data-widget_type=\"video.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-hosted-video elementor-wrapper elementor-open-inline\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<video class=\"elementor-video\" src=\"https:\/\/al-rawiya.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/The-disturbed-king-of-hearts.mp4\" controls=\"\" preload=\"metadata\" controlsList=\"nodownload\"><\/video>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-981b610 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"981b610\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><em>Credits: <\/em><a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/p\/B0X7HBFH3Q7\/\"><i>Mekdad, H. M. (2019, July 26). The Disturbed King of Hearts [Animation]. Instagram. <\/i><\/a><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-138e050 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"138e050\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-cd77ae2\" data-id=\"cd77ae2\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-8c9f9dd elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"8c9f9dd\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Generating emotionally engaging and concept-driven work, Mekdad approaches his creations playfully and humorously. With admiration for everything old such as the drawings found on tarot decks and playing cards, his interest in animating simple renderings and bringing them back to life allows him to add a modern twist to traditional narratives. A striking example of this can be found in his card collection captioned \u201c<a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/p\/B0X7HBFH3Q7\/\">The Disturbed King of Hearts<\/a>\u201d. Mekdad\u2019s looping video tells the reimagined tale of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/biography\/Charlemagne\">Charlemagne<\/a>, King of France (768-814) and the first Holy Roman Emperor. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.tdpclothing.tattoo\/trends\/suicide-king-of-hearts-story-behind-the-myth\/\">Legend<\/a> has it that after the passing of his two sons, Charlemagne\u2019s mental health was in decline, which eventually led him to take his own life. After the announcement of his death, card manufacturers altered the image of the King of Hearts to tell the tale of a troubled emperor.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-1ebe9fe elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"1ebe9fe\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-a84400b\" data-id=\"a84400b\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-72c9e7f elementor-widget elementor-widget-gallery\" data-id=\"72c9e7f\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-settings=\"{&quot;columns&quot;:3,&quot;aspect_ratio&quot;:&quot;1:1&quot;,&quot;gallery_layout&quot;:&quot;grid&quot;,&quot;columns_tablet&quot;:2,&quot;columns_mobile&quot;:1,&quot;gap&quot;:{&quot;unit&quot;:&quot;px&quot;,&quot;size&quot;:10,&quot;sizes&quot;:[]},&quot;gap_tablet&quot;:{&quot;unit&quot;:&quot;px&quot;,&quot;size&quot;:10,&quot;sizes&quot;:[]},&quot;gap_mobile&quot;:{&quot;unit&quot;:&quot;px&quot;,&quot;size&quot;:10,&quot;sizes&quot;:[]},&quot;link_to&quot;:&quot;file&quot;,&quot;overlay_background&quot;:&quot;yes&quot;,&quot;content_hover_animation&quot;:&quot;fade-in&quot;}\" data-widget_type=\"gallery.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-gallery__container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"e-gallery-item elementor-gallery-item elementor-animated-content\" href=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/al-rawiya.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/Hamza-Mekdad-Beirut-Interrupted-1-1.jpeg?fit=1920%2C2688&#038;ssl=1\" data-elementor-open-lightbox=\"yes\" data-elementor-lightbox-slideshow=\"72c9e7f\" data-elementor-lightbox-title=\"Hamza Mekdad - Beirut Interrupted 1\" data-e-action-hash=\"#elementor-action%3Aaction%3Dlightbox%26settings%3DeyJpZCI6MTA0MjUsInVybCI6Imh0dHBzOlwvXC9hbC1yYXdpeWEuY29tXC93cC1jb250ZW50XC91cGxvYWRzXC8yMDIxXC8wN1wvSGFtemEtTWVrZGFkLUJlaXJ1dC1JbnRlcnJ1cHRlZC0xLTEuanBlZyIsInNsaWRlc2hvdyI6IjcyYzllN2YifQ%3D%3D\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-gallery-image elementor-gallery-item__image\" data-thumbnail=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/al-rawiya.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/Hamza-Mekdad-Beirut-Interrupted-1-1.jpeg?fit=1920%2C2688&amp;ssl=1\" data-width=\"1920\" data-height=\"2688\" aria-label=\"\" role=\"img\" ><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-gallery-item__overlay\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"e-gallery-item elementor-gallery-item elementor-animated-content\" href=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/al-rawiya.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/Hamza-Mekdad-Beirut-Interrupted-2-1.jpeg?fit=1920%2C2716&#038;ssl=1\" data-elementor-open-lightbox=\"yes\" data-elementor-lightbox-slideshow=\"72c9e7f\" data-elementor-lightbox-title=\"Hamza Mekdad - Beirut Interrupted 2\" data-e-action-hash=\"#elementor-action%3Aaction%3Dlightbox%26settings%3DeyJpZCI6MTA0MjcsInVybCI6Imh0dHBzOlwvXC9hbC1yYXdpeWEuY29tXC93cC1jb250ZW50XC91cGxvYWRzXC8yMDIxXC8wN1wvSGFtemEtTWVrZGFkLUJlaXJ1dC1JbnRlcnJ1cHRlZC0yLTEuanBlZyIsInNsaWRlc2hvdyI6IjcyYzllN2YifQ%3D%3D\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-gallery-image elementor-gallery-item__image\" data-thumbnail=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/al-rawiya.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/Hamza-Mekdad-Beirut-Interrupted-2-1.jpeg?fit=1920%2C2716&amp;ssl=1\" data-width=\"1920\" data-height=\"2716\" aria-label=\"\" role=\"img\" ><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-gallery-item__overlay\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"e-gallery-item elementor-gallery-item elementor-animated-content\" href=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/al-rawiya.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/Hamza-Mekdad-Beirut-Interrupted-3-1.jpeg?fit=1920%2C2716&#038;ssl=1\" data-elementor-open-lightbox=\"yes\" data-elementor-lightbox-slideshow=\"72c9e7f\" data-elementor-lightbox-title=\"Hamza Mekdad - Beirut Interrupted 3\" data-e-action-hash=\"#elementor-action%3Aaction%3Dlightbox%26settings%3DeyJpZCI6MTA0MjgsInVybCI6Imh0dHBzOlwvXC9hbC1yYXdpeWEuY29tXC93cC1jb250ZW50XC91cGxvYWRzXC8yMDIxXC8wN1wvSGFtemEtTWVrZGFkLUJlaXJ1dC1JbnRlcnJ1cHRlZC0zLTEuanBlZyIsInNsaWRlc2hvdyI6IjcyYzllN2YifQ%3D%3D\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-gallery-image elementor-gallery-item__image\" data-thumbnail=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/al-rawiya.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/Hamza-Mekdad-Beirut-Interrupted-3-1.jpeg?fit=1920%2C2716&amp;ssl=1\" data-width=\"1920\" data-height=\"2716\" aria-label=\"\" role=\"img\" ><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-gallery-item__overlay\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-6d95a7b elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"6d95a7b\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><em>Credits: <\/em><a href=\"https:\/\/hamzamekdad.myportfolio.com\/beirut-interrupted-1\"><em>Mekdad, H. M. (2019). Beirut Interrupted [Illustration].<\/em><i><\/i><\/a><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-71e8ced elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"71e8ced\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-d262e8f\" data-id=\"d262e8f\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-78d309d elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"78d309d\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Whether through acting or design, Mekdad\u2019s bodies of work simultaneously give his viewers an insight into historical or everyday events while raising awareness of mental illness and other social and political issues. Conveying his frustration with the Lebanese government, Hamza\u2019s series <a href=\"https:\/\/hamzamekdad.myportfolio.com\/beirut-interrupted-1\">\u201cBeirut Interrupted\u201d<\/a> is a triptych (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.riseart.com\/guide\/2414\/what-is-a-triptych\">a piece of art comprised of 3 <\/a>sections) that highlights some of Lebanon\u2019s political complexities. Using flat organic shapes, vibrant contrasting colors, and textured gradients, Mekdad\u2019s minimal illustrations tell the abstracted reality of his fractured society.\u00a0<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-7abebc3 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"7abebc3\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-0d2f851\" data-id=\"0d2f851\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-599f610 elementor-widget elementor-widget-video\" data-id=\"599f610\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-settings=\"{&quot;video_type&quot;:&quot;hosted&quot;,&quot;controls&quot;:&quot;yes&quot;}\" data-widget_type=\"video.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-hosted-video elementor-wrapper elementor-open-inline\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<video class=\"elementor-video\" src=\"https:\/\/al-rawiya.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/Hamza-Mekdad-New-Year-Same-Shit-1.mov\" controls=\"\" preload=\"metadata\" controlsList=\"nodownload\"><\/video>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-e14df0a elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"e14df0a\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><em>Credits: <\/em><a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/p\/BsAwWatjIi4\/\"><i>Mekdad, H. M. (2018, December 30). New year, same shit [Animation]. Instagram.\u00a0<\/i><\/a><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-f4965d6 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"f4965d6\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-fe26764\" data-id=\"fe26764\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-7b76fa3 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"7b76fa3\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Published on December 30, 2018, Hamza\u2019s first explicitly political animation illustrated the Lebanese parliament. Reading \u201c<a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/p\/BsAwWatjIi4\/\">New Year, Same Shit<\/a>\u201d, it talks about the recurring issues that Lebanon has been going through for over three decades. Another one of his not-so-subtle politically charged work is entitled \u201c<a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/p\/Bt0QZd2AMSX\/\">Ramco are not recycling<\/a>\u201d. Using kinetic typography, Mekdad boldly calls out the politically-affiliated company for its failure to manage the waste crisis that has been affecting Lebanon since 2015.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-18d94c6 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"18d94c6\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-6328206\" data-id=\"6328206\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-130bdfa elementor-widget elementor-widget-video\" data-id=\"130bdfa\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-settings=\"{&quot;video_type&quot;:&quot;hosted&quot;,&quot;controls&quot;:&quot;yes&quot;}\" data-widget_type=\"video.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-hosted-video elementor-wrapper elementor-open-inline\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<video class=\"elementor-video\" src=\"https:\/\/al-rawiya.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/Ramco-are-not-recycling-Hamza-Mekdad-1.mp4\" controls=\"\" preload=\"metadata\" controlsList=\"nodownload\"><\/video>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-561df27 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"561df27\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><em>Credits: <\/em><a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/p\/Bt0QZd2AMSX\/\"><i>Mekdad, H. M. (2019, February 13). Ramco are not recycling [Animation]. Instagram. <\/i><\/a><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-5b0c347 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"5b0c347\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-8b6a515\" data-id=\"8b6a515\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-8a71cff elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"8a71cff\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>As a social activist, Hamza has been speaking up against the corrupted government for many years. Following the October 17 protests that erupted in 2019, he was one of the first people to storm the streets advocating for a better future. What stood out for Mekdad was the social awareness and a mutual understanding that he had never witnessed before. He said, \u201cit was the first time when you went down to the protest, looked into someone\u2019s eyes no matter what they looked like, what social class you would assume that they pertain to, or what religion they followed and when you did that, there was this mutual understanding that you are both there for the same reason. This broke a lot of walls!\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Inspired by the revolution, Hamza began to create more social and political pieces that carry impactful and symbolic messages. Approaching published content with caution, he developed a minimalist visual style that allows the viewer to focus on the message rather than the image itself.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-eed7013 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"eed7013\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-9cbc4b3\" data-id=\"9cbc4b3\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-428ba48 elementor-widget elementor-widget-video\" data-id=\"428ba48\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-settings=\"{&quot;video_type&quot;:&quot;hosted&quot;,&quot;controls&quot;:&quot;yes&quot;}\" data-widget_type=\"video.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-hosted-video elementor-wrapper elementor-open-inline\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<video class=\"elementor-video\" src=\"https:\/\/al-rawiya.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/August-4th-1.mov\" controls=\"\" preload=\"metadata\" controlsList=\"nodownload\"><\/video>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-8bec34d elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"8bec34d\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><em>Credits: <\/em><a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/p\/CDyTxj6pI4_\/\"><i>Mekdad, H. M. (2020, August 12). Names forever written on the skies of Beirut [Animation].\u00a0<\/i><\/a><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-ed474b6 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"ed474b6\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-b58ee9c\" data-id=\"b58ee9c\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-e3adb2b elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"e3adb2b\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Mekdad was also one of the many individuals affected by the explosion that shook Beirut on August 4, 2020. As a tribute to all the lives lost during this tragic incident, he put together a symbolic animation called \u201c<a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/p\/CDyTxj6pI4_\/\">Names forever written in the skies of Beirut<\/a>\u201d. To help raise funds for those impacted\u00a0 by the explosion, Hamza sold his \u201c<a href=\"https:\/\/hamzamekdad.myportfolio.com\/beirut-interrupted-1\">Beirut, Interrupted<\/a>\u201d posters through <a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/basecampbeirut\/?hl=en\">Basecamp<\/a>. 100% of the proceeds went to families in need.<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Mekdad currently works with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), the UN\u2019s Refugee Agency in Lebanon. As the creative lead in a humanitarian agency, he is required to follow design briefs. To ensure his optimal creativity, Hamza is always working on personal projects on the side to keep advancing himself artistically.<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Malleable and introspective, Mekdad\u2019s art stems from what matters to him the most. \u201cI value my vision the most because this is all of my life. And I made a promise to myself a few years back that I would try to do anything to make the visually impaired experience art as best as they could.\u201d With a strong desire to create illustrative work that is\u00a0 accessible to such individuals, Hamza\u2019s transhumanist ideals continually drive him to expand his artistic expression. Not sticking to any consistent style, he uses digital tools to combine minimalism with imperative color values and clean illustrations to deliver complex information through visual storytelling.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Mekdad\u2019s interests are vast and include traditional artistry such as Islamic art as well as costume and fashion design. Authentically an old soul, his contemporary beliefs and creative mind certainly make him an artist to keep an eye on.\u00a0<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p><a href=\"https:\/\/al-rawiya.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/Al-Rawiya-Anmiated-Poster.mp4\">https:\/\/al-rawiya.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/Al-Rawiya-Anmiated-Poster.mp4<\/a> Credits: [Photo\/Animation: Issue 3 cover art by Hamza] Breathing life into static imagery, interdisciplinary artist Hamza Mekdad\u00a0creates engaging 2D illustrations and animations by combining minimalism with strategic coloring, kinetic typography, line art, symbolism, and sound. Communicating concise messages through visual storytelling, he touches on personal and universal themes associated with the mental, social, political, [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":595,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_eb_attr":"","_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[6,163],"tags":[71,17,72,33,39,73],"class_list":["post-1094","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-art","category-issue-3","tag-animation","tag-artist-feature","tag-illustration","tag-interview","tag-lgbtqia2s","tag-pride-month"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/al-rawiya.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/Issue3.webp?fit=318%2C450&ssl=1","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/al-rawiya.com\/ar\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1094","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/al-rawiya.com\/ar\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/al-rawiya.com\/ar\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/al-rawiya.com\/ar\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/al-rawiya.com\/ar\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1094"}],"version-history":[{"count":11,"href":"https:\/\/al-rawiya.com\/ar\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1094\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":10448,"href":"https:\/\/al-rawiya.com\/ar\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1094\/revisions\/10448"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/al-rawiya.com\/ar\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/595"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/al-rawiya.com\/ar\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1094"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/al-rawiya.com\/ar\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1094"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/al-rawiya.com\/ar\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1094"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}