The National published Maan Jalal's profile Emirati artist Maitha Abdalla explores dark folktales in London show on 12 October 2022, during her solo exhibition INT. The Body, Sunrise at Cromwell Place in London. The article opens with a saying Abdalla grew up with: that a donkey can see the devil, so you should never approach one in the dark.
Jalal explains that folktales from the Arabian Gulf and the surrounding region inspired the exhibition, and that Abdalla, who is represented by Tabari in DIFC, has created a realm of surreal, dark and otherworldly allegories developed from stories she heard as a child. She recalls her grandmother calling her and her sister in from the courtyard at sunset because the devils were out. The new body of work was the result of a three month residency supported by the Abu Dhabi Music and Arts Foundation through its An Effort programme, for which Abdalla worked from Soho Square in London, researching her themes in greater depth. Jalal describes a painterly technique full of movement, where viewers can see the gestures of her fingers, hands and arms on the canvas. "I'm a very messy artist, I love using my hands," Abdalla says, explaining that she then produces extremely fast.
Maitha Abdalla is an Emirati multidisciplinary artist working across painting, sculpture, video and performance. Her work has since been shown at the Aichi Triennale in Japan, and is held by the Guggenheim and Barjeel Art Foundation. She is represented by Tabari.
