The Artists
We are very proud and fortunate to have partnered with some remarkably talented artists and received some of their exceptional artwork. You will find that each artist has their own style, voice and ways of expressing themselves. What they all have in common though is the belief that art can transcend boundaries, and can also be used as a tool to help improve people’s lives.
We want you to really be inspired by their artwork – as we were – and to have a connection with the artist who designed your scarf.
Meet them:
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Rachel MohawegeNationality: Lebanese. Lives in Vienna, Austria Biography: Originally born a Beiruti, Rachel moved to Vienna at age 5 which has been her home ever since. Her love for the arts started as a young girl and has always been at the core of what she does. While pursuing her studies in Art History and Painting, she simultaneously worked in her family’s art gallery in Lebanon. There, she was able to learn the technique of goldening on canvas, furniture and objects, which has greatly influenced her paintings. Her first exhibition took place in 1991 in Vienna, where she focused on all kinds of silk paintings, including pictures, materials and textiles. Other exhibitions followed since then – in Beirut, Vienna and New York. She has also had several joint exhibitions with other international artists from the Middle East, Latin America and Europe. Since 2007, she also acts as a curator for several art exhibitions and shows internationally. Inspiration: Having been brought up in Europe but with Middle Eastern roots and North African influence, I am inspired by the mix of Arabic calligraphy with modern art. And it is precisely this East meets West fusion that I try to bring out in all my work. I take inspiration from everything around me– life, love, poetry, literature, spirituality, nature, music, good food as well as fashion influences and different shades of lights. Favourite Quote/Motto: “Yesterday we obeyed kings and bent our necks before emperors. But today we kneel only to truth, follow only beauty, and obey only love” - Khalil Gibran, Lebanese artist, poet and writer. Is there any more information about you that you would like to share with the customers? Fifteen years ago an agent of internationally renowned fashion designer Jean Paul Gautier approached Rachel to design 800 scarves. Unfortunately, at the time, she was unable to take on such a responsibility due to personal and family commitments. Fifteen years later, she has the opportunity to go back to the roots - designing artwork for scarves – and doing it for a great cause!Moral of the story: “Everything Comes to you in the Right Moment. Be Patient.” Why Work With Schalmauer: I love the idea of bringing together different kinds of people – all of whom are contributing in their own way to the greater good. Schalmauer is not just about selling a product, but rather its about improving people’s lives. These types of initiatives need to be voiced and talked about! Website:
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Khalid ShahinNationality: Born in Hebron. Living in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Biography: Khalid Shahin is a renowned fine art photographer and abstract artist. He is a self-taught artist and Arabic calligraphy lover, who through time has tried to combine and integrate Text-Art and Arabic calligraphy with his abstract paintings. He has more than 27 years experience in the field of media, advertising, corporate identity branding and packaging. Working with oils, acrylics, pastels together with digital media, Khalid’s works are expressive of the energy and color within modern Arabia, and over many years he has perfected his style and created his own personal art set. Between 1992 and 2012, Khalid took part in more than 17 worldwide exhibitions and came to the attention of the art world at a young age. Khalid’s works are included in several private and public collections in almost every country around the globe. Inspiration: I have always been inspired by the legacy of Arabs in Andalucía. Years ago I visited the Alhambra and I was fascinated with the Islamic architecture, geometry, patterns, and colors, particularly the blue and green variations. This has greatly influenced my style. Another source of inspiration which dates back to my childhood years was my art teacher. When I was in the third grade in the early 70s, my teacher would always ask me to go to the front of the classroom to write on the blackboard because I had the nicest handwriting. Soon after, that same teacher gave me a book on calligraphy and told me to study it. His advice which has always stayed with me is: if you want to be a master at anything, you have to practice, practice, and practice; and to always try to feed your eyes with beauty. Favorite Quote/Motto: Art is everywhere and those that are fortunate and talented enough have the key to explore it. Is there any more information about you that you would like to share with our customers? I have a dream. That one day artists in the Middle East will have the same value as those of other types of entertainers in the Region such as singers or actors; and that the same respect and worth will be accorded to the arts as it is to music. Why Work With Schalmauer: The social aspect was very appealing, and ultimately I am a simple human being. Website:
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Wissam ShawkatNationality: Born in Basra, Iraq. Living in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Biography: Wissam Shawkat, one of the top calligraphy artists and designers in the world, completed a degree in civil engineering at Basra University. However, he did not last long before pursuing his life’s passion of art. After moving to the UAE in 2002, he worked for four years for a design agency and an international branding agency before deciding to go his own path. Wissam has practiced calligraphy and design for over 20 years. He has been credited for having a unique style – one that has bridged the gap between traditional practitioners and modern contemporary Arab culture. He has received numerous international awards for his fine art calligraphy, which can be found in many collections around the world. His clients have included the likes of Hermès, Chopard, Barclays and Bang & Olufson among others. His letters of love series was received with great acclaim in New York when he exhibited at the Reed Space Gallery in 2011. Inspiration: I take inspiration from anything and everything around me. Every beautiful thing I see is a source of inspiration. Favorite Quote/Motto: Since all my life has been about my art and calligraphy, and pushing it to the boundaries, I strongly believe in the motto, "in order to break the rules, you need to master them first". This is precisely the case with me. As my Arabic calligraphy has evolved and developed, I have managed to link the traditional style of calligraphy with a modern look and feel. Is there any more information about you that you would like to share with our customers? I did not go through the traditional way of learning calligraphy. I started my obsession with calligraphy at the age of 10 when my schoolteacher wrote some letters using chalk on the blackboard. That was enough for me to be captured all my life with the beauty of letters. And the rest is history. Why Work With Schalmauer: It’s a very interesting project, and ultimately my Love Collection is all about the love for people so it complements nicely the work of Schalmauer. Website:
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