05.03.23
Maryam Faraj AlSuwaidi, who comes with strong artistic ties in Qatar, is a VCUarts Qatar alumna who in collaboration with design company FROMM. takes inspiration from the desert life.
Maryam Faraj AlSuwaidi is the daughter of Qatar's most known local artist Faraj Daham whose work is grounded in the present while being responsive to the world around. Her brother Mohammed AlSuwaidi, an architect pursuing higher studies, has also made a mark in the art world with his multi-media installations. Guided and inspired by these prolific figures in her life, Maryam AlSuwaidi has herself made an impact in the art and design space in Qatar and now has made it internationally with her furniture designs displayed at Milan Design Week 2022.
Maryam AlSuwaidi, who completed her BFA in Interior Design from Virginia Commonwealth University School of the Arts in Qatar (VCUarts Qatar), a Qatar Foundation (QF) partner university, developed the designs in collaboration with FROMM., a newly launched design company situated in M7.
AlSuwaidi is a multi-media designer who has exhibited at various events and venues. Some of her recent collaborations include designing installations for the football world cup tournament, and participating in the Majaz exhibition at Mathaf: Arab Museum of Modern Art.
In this conversation, AlSuwaidi, who currently works as an Interior Designer at Qatar National Bank, talks about her collaboration with FROMM., her inspiration behind the furniture designs and what participating at an internationally renowned design fair means to her.
How did your collaboration with FROMM. come about?
MARYAM: In the September of 2021, FROMM. announced a design competition for local designers. I hadn't heard of FROMM. until then as they were yet to have their official opening. The brief was to create contemporary minimalist designs that drew inspiration from Qatari culture yet also appealed to an international audience. I submitted my designs and was delighted when I got a call from FROMM. saying that along with Shua'a Ali, another local designer, I was selected to design the furniture and accessories range which they called the Shuroug Collection. 'Shuroug', by the way, means 'dawn' in Arabic.
What was the theme for the Shurouq collection?
MARYAM: FROMM.'s approach to design aims to create products that are contemporary yet have roots in heritage. Hence, we wanted the Shuroug Collection to be inspired by Qatari customs, narratives, and history. We made sure it incorporates traditional elements of Qatari architecture and draws inspiration from the local environment. The result is this range that, on the one hand, retains Qatari traditions, yet is modern enough to stand out in a global marketplace, and blend in with any décor.
Where did you look for inspiration?
MARYAM: The desert is part of our local culture. It's a feature that has always been and will always be part of our distinct identity. I see the desert and sand dunes as timeless pieces of God's making. They reflect the ages that have gone by and are yet to come. They're minimalist, yet when observed closely they're complex and dynamic in their movements. This makes one appreciate the details in a desert, as much as its expansive whole. So, when I wanted a beautiful inspiration that captures the soul of Qatar and the region, I turned to the desert. The desert became the polestar that guided my creativity.
To initiate the collection's design, understanding the character of the primary visual elements was a must. This included analysing geographic features such as shapes and movements of the desert. I drew inspiration from the undulating waves and curves of sand dunes for the main features of the Shurouq Collection.
Can you run us through the unique features of the design, and the materials used?
MARYAM: I collaborated with FROMM. on three pieces for the Shuroug collection: the 'Haima' armchair, the 'Haima' pouffe and the 'Baida' sofa.
Keeping in line with FROMM's objectives for sustainability, originality and functionality, the Collection's theme focused on all three. It was a challenge to streamline aspects of Qatar's complex multifaceted culture into a contemporary yet minimalistic design. However, we succeeded in designing and producing an entire collection that is not only aesthetically pleasing but is also multifunctional and a nod to our heritage.
From a sustainability point of view, FROMM. was keen that the materials used in the Shuroug Collection each showcase a unique property. While my designs in the collection use custom plywood in brown and yellow tones that mimic the desert, they're also formaldehyde-free. The sofas and pouffe utilise an expanded polyurethane padding that is durable, resistant, and are further protected and covered by a layer of fibre padding made from recycled plastic bottles.