GAME ART: KHALED MAKHSHOUSH'S PIXEL ART
Saudi artist Khaled Makhshoush, born in 1992 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, is a paradigm of how digital innovation and traditional culture can intertwine to produce captivating art. Living and working in Riyadh, Makhshoush has carved out a distinctive niche for himself in the realm of digital art, particularly in the specialized field of pixel art. This form of art, which uses the pixel as its fundamental unit of composition, is rooted in the digital age’s visual lexicon, drawing inspiration from the early days of computer graphics and video gaming. We are talking the aesthetics of 16/32 bit console games here...
Makhshoush’s ongoing engagement with pixel art began in 2016, driven by a passion for video games, both playing and developing them. This interest not only ignited his creative expression but also informed the aesthetic and conceptual underpinnings of his work. As a self-taught artist, he leverages a combination of modern tools, including a drawing tablet, stylus, and mouse, to craft his atmospheric digital paintings. These tools become extensions of his vision, allowing him to meticulously piece together images pixel by pixel, creating vibrant and intricate scenes that bridge the gap between the digital and the natural world.
His artistic practice is a reflective exploration of the emotional resonance of places, both real and imagined. Makhshoush’s work is underpinned by a deep interest in the interplay between emotions and space, leading him to create evocative scenes that transcend mere representation. By basing his imaginary landscapes on real ones, he blends reality with imagination, offering viewers a gateway into his unique perception of the world. This approach not only showcases his technical skill but also highlights his ability to capture and convey the essence of a place through the lens of personal experience and emotional response.
The landscapes and urban scenes of Riyadh, with their rich history and rapid modern development, serve as a primary source of inspiration for Makhshoush. His art captures the dynamic spirit of Saudi Arabia, reflecting both its cultural heritage and its contemporary transformation. From serene deserts to bustling cityscapes, his pixel art reimagines familiar scenes through a personal and contemporary lens, making them resonate with viewers on multiple levels.
Makhshoush’s contribution to the art world extends beyond the aesthetic; it is a dialogue with the viewer about the significance of place and the universal experience of change. By documenting the evolving landscape of Riyadh and, by extension, Saudi Arabia on both Twitter, Instagram and a variety of other platforms, Makhshoush’s pixel art becomes a historical record of the present, capturing the essence of a society navigating the waters of tradition and modernity.
Born in 1992 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Khaled Makhshoush is a self-taught digital artist who specializes in pixel art, a visual expression from the digital world whose basic material is the physical representation of a pixel. When Makhshoush first began creating his pixel art in 2016, he saw it as a means of creative expression stemming from his interest in playing and developing video games. He uses a drawing tablet, a stylus, and a mouse to create his atmospheric digital paintings, which explore the relationship between emotions and space. Focusing on how the place feels, he bases his imaginary places on existing ones, blending reality and imagination, and inviting the viewers to experience his vision. Khaled Makhshoush lives and works in Riyadh.
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