If I’m honest, I wasn’t expecting to like this video. I thought it would be something corporate and cliched, using an artist as a way to sell a car. But I was completely wrong. The first episode of The Art of 7, a series of online art documentaries made by BMW Contemporary, the cultural arm of the German car manufacturer, is well-made, informative and offers a fresh and personal insight into the work and practice of Youssef Nabil.
Nabil, an Egyptian artist who lives and works in Paris, uses the art of old Egyptian cinema - namely hand painting over silver gelatin printed photographs - to produce his now widely recognised works. He also chooses to work with strong and influential women as his subjects. Yousra, the Egyptian actress and singer is featured in this video and recalls candidly her experience with a young Nabil as he took her portrait.
In Time of Transformation, his 2013 exhibition in Dubai, Nabil presented a whole series of portraits, which included Alicia Keys, Marina Abramovic, Catherine Deneuve and Isabella Rossellini. His latest exhibition, I Saved My Belly Dancer is currently showing in The Third Line - it is a 12-minute video featuring Salma Hayek.
As you hear in the short film, during which Nabil is interviewed by Ali Khadra, the founder of Canvas Magazine based in Dubai, the artist uses both tools to evoke the spirit of an Egypt of the past - one he remembers but fears no longer exists.
With interviews from collectors of his work, including Sheikha Paula Mubarak Al Sabah, a prominent figure in the art scene from Kuwait, the video moves from country to country following Nabil and Khadra on a journey of discovery. Even with the occaisonal sweeping shot of a BMW and the pay off interior shot of the dashboard of one of the cars, it is joyful viewing. I am looking forward to the next one.
• To watch the film, visit BMW’s Middle East website or watch below
aseaman@thenational.ae
