Face of the Future: Kinda Hibrawi

It was the artwork of Morrocan calligrapher Hassan Massoudy, who interprets in paintings the poetry of Khalil Gibran, that first introduced Hibrawi during her school days to the artistic world of Arabic words. She held her first exhibition during her senior high school year at The Williston Northampton School in the US, and then moved to Southern California, where she enrolled the California State University and majored in Illustration and Graphic design.

As an Arab living in the United States, Hibrawi felt the need for her artwork to reflect the richness of the Middle East and the beauty of Arabic Calligraphy. She explains that the Arabic vocabulary is full of great words, like the word “Al-Hak” (Justice) for instance; it has energy and strong impact. It takes pages to deliver the range of meanings and connotations it holds. Hibrawi’s paintings naturally voice her Arabic background and create powerful visual representations of each word, expressing her fascination with the Arabic language through the use of color, movement and text. The intriguing combination gives Hibrawi’s audiences aesthetic glimpses of the Arabic language, and brings colors back to the pale and distorted images that seem to be associated with it.

Did you ever live abroad?

Yes, I lived in Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Lebanon and the United States.

Would you consider moving back?

Yes, if the opportunity to move to Syria came along.

If you could, what one thing would you change in the Syrian society?

I would like for the Arab world in general, and not just the Syrian society, to be more active in the Arts.

What was your first paying job?

I was 17 years old, and got my first commission to do a custom painting.

What is your idea of a successful career?

A successful career is one that allows me to do what I love, painting, for a living.

What is the life achievement you dream of establishing?

I hope I can help other upcoming Syrian artists see that realizing their dream is a possibility.

Do you have any professional regrets?

I only wish that I could have started focusing on my art and learning calligraphy sooner than I did.

What is the one thing or thought that troubles you and keeps you awake and thinking at night?

I worry that people will forget to be giving and open to one another.

Looking through your life, who is the one person that influenced you the most and how?

The amazing art of master calligrapher Hassan Massoudy directly influenced my work. But I think you can be influenced by many people… You can be influenced by a stranger you meet randomly at a book store for instance!

Looking through Syria’s past & present, who is the one Syrian person you admire the most and why?

Nizar Qabbani, for his intellectual and artistic talents

What experience must you have to feel that you’ve lived a completely satisfying life?

There is so much greatness and beauty to leading a full life. I hope never to be completely satisfied so I can continue to search for new and exciting experiences

A goal you would like to achieve this year.

To read more!

Please give a 1-word / statement answer: I value: Honesty I am fascinated by: Human nature The world needs more: Kindness I would walk a thousand miles to:

Find true happiness My favorite quote: “Let’s not talk of karma, but simply of our responsibility toward the whole world.” –Dalai Lama My favorite author: Khalil Gibran I am currently reading: “Leap of Faith: Memoirs of an Unexpected Life” by Queen Noor

Three things that make me smile:

My family, the sound of morning birds,

first day of spring

Three traits I admire in people:

Loyalty, honesty, compassion