Amen Fayad, artist
After walking through Turkey and east European countries for a month, Syrian Artist, Amen Fayad (20) finally arrived in Germany in August, 2015. Amen and I have met in November 2016 in a language course and we have been good friends since then. Not only does his creative mind inspire me, but his strong sense of the self and his vitality is more than admirable. I got to interview him about his art and meet with his wonderful friends in one afternoon. The interview was answered in Arabic, translated into German by his friend. Here I translated it in English.
Q. How did you begin drawing?
A. Since my childhood, I have been drawing and painting. My interest never went away.
Q. What was the moment you decided to become an artist?
A. It became clear to me when my drawings and paintings became better with time. Of course the support from my family and friends played a huge role in my decision-making, too.
Q. What is your influence? Do you have a favorite artist?
A. Hahaha. Honestly, I don't have a favorite artist. The feeling of frustration, disappointment and anger probably influenced me. And also I had too much free time; that helped.
A. Since my childhood, I have been drawing and painting. My interest never went away.
Q. What was the moment you decided to become an artist?
A. It became clear to me when my drawings and paintings became better with time. Of course the support from my family and friends played a huge role in my decision-making, too.
Q. What is your influence? Do you have a favorite artist?
A. Hahaha. Honestly, I don't have a favorite artist. The feeling of frustration, disappointment and anger probably influenced me. And also I had too much free time; that helped.
Q. What is your motivation to create artwork?
A. I feel always an urge for self-expression. That's my way of art-making.
Q. How's your life in Germany?
A. Actually it is not so comfortable. But that is only because I'm still too young to live alone in a foreign country, leaving my family and my home country behind.
Q. What would you like to do for the future?
A. I would like to be an actor. Drawing is something that I was born with, but I'm also interested in acting. And of course, I would like to see my family again.
A. I feel always an urge for self-expression. That's my way of art-making.
Q. How's your life in Germany?
A. Actually it is not so comfortable. But that is only because I'm still too young to live alone in a foreign country, leaving my family and my home country behind.
Q. What would you like to do for the future?
A. I would like to be an actor. Drawing is something that I was born with, but I'm also interested in acting. And of course, I would like to see my family again.
Q. What does "art" means to you?
A. To make art is to embody people's feelings. I believe art is the pleasure of the life.
A. To make art is to embody people's feelings. I believe art is the pleasure of the life.
Interested in his newer work? Check out his Instagram!
Besides drawing and painting, he also dances!
And here is my favorite drawing by him...
(Amen has drawn one of my photo pieces a few month ago.)
Thank you, Amen for sharing your thoughts and artwork!
Besides drawing and painting, he also dances!
And here is my favorite drawing by him...
(Amen has drawn one of my photo pieces a few month ago.)
Thank you, Amen for sharing your thoughts and artwork!
Interviewed & Photographed by Michiko Saiki
June 11, 2017
June 11, 2017