Exhibition explores nostalgia for old neighbourhoods of Amman

AMMAN — After completing a bachelor’s degree in history, it was artist Nissa Raad’s studies in science and urban design that triggered her interest in painting the old neighbourhoods and houses of Amman.

“There’s a saying in urban design: a good street is one where you can talk safely with your friends, and you can hear what they say and you’re safe from cars… I think people relate that to old neighbourhoods with sadness and nostalgia,” the princess told The Jordan Times.

 “I’ve always been interested in architecture and urban design, and I fell in love with all the little details that make up the street, and a house, and a town,” the artist said.

“As I began painting, it started to dawn on me that the hara [neighbourhood] is something [deeper] than just doors and windows and little things… there’s a very deep meaning behind it. It symbolises belonging, love, unity and the sense of nostalgia for simple things,” the artist added.

Raad said she used acrylic paint, water colours and collages and ink for her latest exhibition, Al Hara (The Neighbourhood) at Amman’s Wadi Finan Art Gallery, which runs until November 7.

“I rely heavily on black, that’s something that’s inspired by my grandmother Fahrelnissa Zeid. The shapes just come to me. I don’t really do a sketch before I paint, I just go with what’s in my head at that time,” said Raad.

“Sometimes I find myself not being in control anymore, the painting starts to tell me what to paint, what colours and shapes it wants,” the artist added.

“I was born into a creative family. My grandmother is the famous Turkish artist Fahrelnissa Zeid, so since I was a little girl, I was surrounded by her art, which covered the walls, ceilings and floors. I was mesmerised by the colours she produced,” she continued.

“I always felt a connection with her. I have painted my entire life, but only recently did I take it to a professional level.”

Raad said she tried to depict in her art the beauty of simple elements in a neighbourhood that people nowadays are not familiar with.

“Everybody is in their cars; kids don’t want to play outside — they want to play on their iPads. They’re not playing football in the streets as much as they used to. This is something I tried to explore with my art,” she added.