Pop Art duo and icons, Hamad AlSaab & Ali AlSultan (Hamad&Ali) exhibited (Connect to Disconnect to Connect) in Dar Al Funoon, Kuwait, featuring 20 artworks that each reflects the contradiction between modern habits and traditions. For example, there is a girl wearing “Thob” – traditional Kuwaiti dress – listening to music with big earphones! Or another girl that is holding an iPod instead of playing hopscotch!

“People find networking am socializing (connect) through social media. Are they really connection though? Books and scripts are meant to connect us to our history, but in an where we are be connected everywhere, constantly, how is it that we are losing the connection to our emotions, traditions and ultimately the essence of ourselves of ourselves?” ~ Hamad&Ali

Al Maha on (Connect to Disconnect to Connect)

My two favorites were: the old man who’s playing with a crystalized laptop, a strong purple & white background, contrast of light green & ruby with actual Swaroviski! Loved playing with colors contrast in it. The second is “Why Not Write About Us?”; a poem by Dala’ AlMofty writing in black on a yellow background & locked behind a black net. A fear challenging artwork! I also love how a collaboration of two persons whom differences melt into one expressive artwork that one could never tell two people created it.

The concept of (Connect to Disconnect to Connect) confirms that this duo work on visionary perspective! When i first met Hamad & Ali in MEANSART Fair in Beirut last July and interviewed Hamad about their participation, he said “Another question we ask here is what happened to human communication?! It is so sad to see it weakening because of the wrong usage of new technologies; that are suppose to to bring us closer not expand the distance”.

Once again, Hamad&Ali succeeded in delivering an educational message, a hint or more through their art! (Connect to Disconnect to Connect) makes you wonder “Would disconnection from mepaterial things or an image mean to disconnect from the world? On the other hand, a connection to something or someone can also open the door to connecting to yourself, to your own identity. So how much do we need to disconnect to connect or how much do we need to connect to disconnect?”.

Al Maha wishes Hamad&Ali the best of luck in Art Istanbul from 24 – 27 November.

Cheers