Interview: Khalid AlSaidni

SHOWstudio: How would you describe the work you have created for SHOWstudio in three words?

KAS: playful, adaptive, Endlessly looping

SHOWstudio: Can you expand on this; talking a bit about what you do and your aesthetic?

Khalid AlSaidni: I’ve always been fascinated by letters and lettering art, inspired by the rich history of Arabic calligraphy and the magic of latin lettering art, I think I’m on a mission to discover new ways to draw Arabic characters and words.

SHOWstudio: How would you define your work as a visual artist?

KAS: One of the heartwarming moments in my not too-long lettering journey is when some people recognise my art before I announce it on my page, like when a client shares something i've worked on for them or when someone reaches out to me saying: 'this is yours, is it not?'

At that moment, I think I might be onto something in the sense that I have a new and recognisable style, one that's different, and hopefully others find unique, too. Recently, i've turned my efforts to focusing mainly on 3D and so I feel like i'm only just scratching the surface of animation, embracing vibrant colours and bold shapes. I'm inspired by retro aesthetic and textures as well as experimenting and always learning and discovering new possibilities I never imagined possible in Arabic lettering.

SHOWstudio: What role does research play in your work - do you have any key creative influences?

KAS: I feel that to keep improving and expanding my skills, I must keep trying various techniques, experimenting with new softwares and mediums. YouTube and a few paid courses are my main source of research and learning.

Additionally, looking back on the vast and rich Arabic calligraphy to see the incredible artistry put into each character's proportion and shape, as well as the overall formation of these letters and words together, it's all really impressive and equally inspiring. Combining that with the beautiful European and American lettering available in books, films, on Instagram, or even shop signs (I even find myself pausing that 90’s movie to screenshot the neon sign on some random motel in the middle of nowhere). Bottom line is, I keep collecting art that captivates and fascinates me, wherever I am, wherever I go, whatever I see.

SHOWstudio: What was your creative process like, from concept to creation, in response to Nick Knight’s brief to redesign and reinterpret the SHOWstudio logo?

KAS: Usually I always start with my sketchbook and pencil, trying different perspectives on a 3D software. After sleeping on it and giving the process time and space in my mind, I go back and forth between the sketchbook and my 3D software until the idea kicks in. At first, I couldn’t help noticing the similarities between the 'O, W' in SHOW and 'شو', which is Arabic for 'show'. I knew it has to be some sort of transition or morphing between the two languages, and after a lot of tweaking and adjusting, finally we got the desired result. Honestly, It’s my first lettering animation on this scale, I had some doubts at the beginning, But luckily it did turn out just fine. I did learn a lot and I think this kickstarts a lettering animation journey I’m excited to explore.