عن أول لوحة انباعت وأول معرض بحياته وكيف بعد كل هالسنين..

بعده هداك الشاب اللي عمره ١٨ سنة وطلع على دمشق يدوّر على حاله حلقة عن الفن كمهنة حقيقية مو كهواية

.. وعن فنان اختار الأبيض والأسود وخلق منهم عالم كامل.

* صفوان داحول من مواليد حماة ١٩٦١.. درس بكلية الفنون الجميلة بدمشق وحصل على الدكتوراه من بلجيكا.. يُعتبر من أبرز الرسامين في العالم العربي ومسيرته تُعد حلقة وصل بين الفن العربي الحديث والمعاصر.. اشتهر بسلسلة "حلم" اللي بدأها من أواخر الثمانينات ومستمرة لليوم.. عرض بمعهد العالم العربي بباريس ومتحف بوسان بكوريا الجنوبية وغاليري أيام بدبي وبيروت ولندن.. أعماله موجودة بمجموعات عالمية منها متحف العالم العربي في باريس مؤسسة بارجيل بالشارقة والمتحف الوطني بدمشق والصندوق العربي للإنماء بالكويت.. أعلى سعر مزاد لأعماله وصل ٢٥٧ ألف دولار بكريستيز دبي.. بسنة ٢٠١٢ غادر دمشق لدبي.

What does it mean to be an artist and live from your art?

Safwan Dahoul* is one of the most important contemporary Syrian artists. 

In this episode he tells us about his beginnings at the Faculty of Fine Arts in Damascus
..his relationship with Fateh Moudarres.. 
..is first painting sold and his first exhibition ever
..and how after all these years, he's still that 18-year-old who left for Damascus searching for himself

An episode about art as a real profession not a hobby.. and about an artist who chose black and white and created an entire world from them

*Safwan Dahoul was born in Hama in 1961.. He studied at the Faculty of Fine Arts in Damascus and earned his doctorate in Belgium.. He is considered one of the most prominent painters in the Arab world and his career is regarded as a crucial link between modern and contemporary Arab art.. He is known for his "Dream" series which he started in the late 1980s and continues to this day.. He has exhibited at the Institut du Monde Arabe in Paris, Busan Museum of Art in South Korea, and Ayyam Gallery in Dubai, Beirut and London.. His works are held in major international collections including the Institut du Monde Arabe in Paris, the Barjeel Art Foundation in Sharjah, the National Museum in Damascus, and the Arab Fund for Economic and Social Development in Kuwait.. His highest auction price reached $257,000 at Christie's Dubai.. In 2012 he left Damascus for Dubai.

He makes people laugh through Hessa, Ka22oobi, and Kareem.. but who is Mohanad when he takes off the wig?

From his first content creation gig and a full trip to Japan.. to turning down a role in a Ramadan series because he hadn't seen a single word of the script.. to the reality that he panics every time he posts a video even after 15 years in the field.

An episode with laughs, real talk, and important lessons!

Let us know your thoughts in the comments.

في هذه الحلقة بالمشاركة مع مؤسسة وجود و اسبوع الفنان، نأخذكم لأول إنتاج لمؤسسة وجود الفنية الناشئة. اسبوع الفنان، حدث استضافته واحة أيلة من 4 لـ 7 ديسمبر 2025، جمع فنانين ومبدعين من مختلف المجالات.

التقينا مع حكواتي يدرّب فرق مبيعات وتسويق، فنان صوت يوثّق آلاف الأصوات في مشروع واحد، فنانة تشتغل بالمعادن الثقيلة بدوام كامل، وشيف حوّلت المطبخ لريادة أعمال.

الحلقة الكاملة موجودة على يوتيوب، سبوتيفاي و ابل بودكاست.

بالشراكة مع: مؤسسة وجود | أسبوع الفنان، الأردن

Four artists. One storm. One unforgettable conversation.

In this episode in partnership with WUJUD Foundation and The Artists Week, we take you to the first-ever production by WUJUD, a nascent art foundation. The Artists Week, hosted at Ayla Oasis from December 4-7, 2025, brought together artists and creatives from diverse fields.

We sat down with a storyteller who trains sales and marketing teams, a sound artist documenting thousands of sounds in one project, a full-time artist working with heavy metals, and a chef who turned cooking into entrepreneurship.

In partnership with: Wujud Foundation | The Artists Week | Ayla Oasis

تابعوا الضيوف على انستغرام: 
https://instagram.com/7asanal
https://instagram.com/zaidfarouki 
https://instagram.com/mishkah.ae 
The Creative Hustle Show: ◼️انستغرام - https://instagram.com/thecreativehustleshow

How did Zaid Farouki and Hasan Alzeer turn their passion into leading creative brands across the Arab world?
Two entrepreneurs who changed the concept of fashion and heritage in the region reveal their extraordinary journey from a student studying business administration to a global fashion designer, and from a traditional family business owner to the founder of a heritage-driven brand, Mishkah.
In this inspiring episode, they share with us:
◼️ How they went from a simple idea to regionally recognized brands
◼️ The secret behind continuing to build businesses despite crises, COVID and wars.
◼️ Why Zaid works with artisans from Syria, Jordan, Egypt, and UAE
◼️ How authenticity becomes a way to increase sales

Chapters

Watch brilliant minds share their journeys, challenges, and breakthroughs.

Featuring:

• Mo Gawdat - Best Selling Author and former CBO, Google X
• Ahmed Nasheet - TV presenter, Gamer, Producer
• Butheina Kazim - Founder & Managing Director, Cinema Akil
• Kathy Johnston - Chief Chocolate Officer, Mirzam
• Khulood Khoory - Projects & Events Department Director, Dubai Culture
• Mohamed Mishal - World Economic Forum Global Shaper

Our thanks to the team at Dubai Culture and to Oblong Gallery at Al Khayat Avenue for sharing their space with us.

Chapters

0:00 From the Al Quoz Creative Entrepreneurship Forum

2:00 Butheina Kazim: The role of cinema in placemaking

10:08 Mo Gawdat: Creativity in the age of AI

22:08 Khulood Khoory: Dubai Culture’s vision for the creative economy

27:27 Ahmed Nasheet: Building communities

32:44 Kathy Johnston: Being a Chief Chocolate Officer

38:48 Mohamed Mishal: Gamifying networking

In this episode of The Creative Hustle, I sit down with Fatma Al-Mahmoud, Curator, Co-Founder of Hamzat Wasl, and Senior Manager of Programming at the Museum of the Future. We discuss the evolution of her curatorial journey, how she balances multiple roles, and the principles that drive her as both a cultural leader and creative entrepreneur.Dubbed an ambassador for Emirati youth, Fatma’s achievements already surpass her age. She shares candid reflections on determination, lifelong learning and the value of embracing creativity as both a passion and profession. For aspiring and established creative entrepreneurs alike, her story offers grounded advice and powerful inspiration.

In this episode of The Creative Hustle, I sit down with Yasmine Idriss Tannir, the creative force behind Petites Choses. From her beginnings as a graphic designer to becoming a food designer and recipe developer, Yasmine takes us through her inspiring journey of transforming simple cookies into global partnerships. We talk about how food can build community, the delicate balance of flavors and aesthetics, and the creative crossovers between design and the culinary world. Along the way, Yasmine shares personal stories, from baking with her neighbors in Dubai Marina to creating pavlovas and recipes that delight the eye as much as the taste buds. 

In this episode, I sit down with international Syrian-born designer Rami Al Ali, just ahead of his debut show on the official Paris Haute Couture Week calendar as the first Syrian designer to achieve this milestone. We explore his journey from Dubai to international acclaim, including how an early rejection to his avant-garde style unexpectedly set him on an entrepreneurial path that would make him one of the Arab world’s most celebrated designers. He shares insights on staying grounded, building a sustainable brand rooted in creativity, family values, and client trust, and the personal qualities he believes are essential for success in the fashion industry. Rami also tells the story behind Ard Dyar, the philanthropic platform he launched to empower emerging Syrian talent and nurture the next generation of creatives.

0:00 مقدمة البودكاست 5:30 التحديات في عالم الموضة 9:20 الانتقال إلى دبي 12:33 رؤية رامي في الموضة 17:47 تحويل الرفض إلى نجاح 22:11 التوازن بين العمل والعائلة 25:22 تأثير السوشال ميديا 29:29 منصة أرض الديار 35:25 نصائح للمصممين الناشئين

With iconic projects spanning Melbourne, Prague, Tokyo, Dubai, AlUla, and beyond, Nadim shares how his sculptures and installations reshape public spaces, spark collective memory, and offer moments of reflection, both in times of peace and destruction. We explore the role of the artist in the urban landscape, the transformative power of public art, the importance of collaboration and interdisciplinarity in creative practice, and what it truly means to build hope into the fabric of a city.

Chapters 0:00 Coming up… 1:40 From Urban Toys to Collaboration 3:30 Growing up in Lebanon 7:41 Influences of Japanese Architecture 11:30 Expression through different media 12:41 Starting with a sketch 15:00 Creating dreams for cities 16:10 Characters as an alphabet 17:28 ‘On parade’ in Al Ula 19:20 Creative work is a negotiation 23:19 The Rise of Public Art in MENA 28:38 The power of sculptures 29:49 1001 characters 31:24 The Vision of the ‘Cloud of Arabia’ 37:06 Nadim’s advice for aspiring artists

تتحدث رنا عن كيف تُعيد خطيرة تشكيل صورة المرأة العربية من خلال الكوميديا، والصدق والطرح الصريح والعفوي. نتناول سويًا قوة الفكاهة في كسر التابوهات، وأهمية الحفاظ على الخصوصية الثقافية مع تسليط الضوء على أصوات نسائية متنوعة، كما نتعمّق في العودة إلى المعارف التراثية كوسيلة لإعادة الاتصال بالذات. كما تشاركنا رنا محطاتها الشخصية، وكيف تعيد اليوم تعريف النجاح في مجالات العمل ، والأنوثة و المساحة الشخصية

In this episode of The Creative Hustle, I am joined by Rana Askoul, Co-founder and Co-CEO of Khateera (خطيرة), a bold, women-centric Arab creative house and digital media platform, and Founder of Nara Healing Space in Dubai.

Rana unpacks how Khateera is reshaping the narrative around Arab women through satire, honesty and unapologetic storytelling. We talk about the power of comedy in tackling taboo topics, the importance of preserving cultural nuance while amplifying diverse women’s voices, and how going back to ancestral knowledge can help us reconnect with ourselves. Rana also reflects on her personal evolution and how she's redefining what success looks like, in business, wellness and womanhood.

Join me as I explain the concept of value-based pricing, share pricing trends from around the world and my pricing tips to help you craft your next proposal.

تطرح صوفي نظرة من الداخل على تطور صناعة الإعلام والترفيه في العالم العربي، وما يستلزم لبناء منظومة مزدهرة لصناع الأفلام. مشوارها المهني جمع صناعة الأفلام والوقوف وراء الكاميرا مع دورها كأستاذة جامعية ومديرة تنفيذية في الجامعة الأمريكية بدبي، حيث تشاركنا صوفي رؤيتها للتحديات و الفرص التي تواجه صناعة الأفلام في المنطقة العربية، ونصائحها الواعدة لمواكبة تحولات القطاع والاستفادة من المهرجانات السينمائية وصولاً إلى الارتقاء بالمحتوى العربي على الساحة العالمية و ما يتطلبه الأمر لإحداث تأثير حقيقي في السينما والإعلام العربي اليوم.

مشواره يعكس تقاطعاً محورياً بين الإنارة والاستنارة، يحدثني أمير عن فلسفتهالخاصة في تنمية الطاقة الإبداعية، وأهمية الروحانية في العملية الإبداعية، والتجارب الحياتية التي شكلت رحلته الشخصية والمهنية من خلال الشغف والإيمان والمرونة 

الإبداعية.

Amir El-Sobky, recognized as one of the world’s top 40 under 40 lighting designers, is a multi-disciplinary creative, musician and advocate for igniting creativity and discovering one’s true calling.

With a dynamic career at the intersection of lighting and enlightenment, I’m excited to speak with Amir about his philosophy on cultivating creative energy, the role of spirituality in the creative process and the transformative life experiences that have shaped his personal and professional journey, through passion, faith and creative resilience.

I'm excited to be talking to him today about the intersection of art and entrepreneurship in his career, how he transitioned from something very different into art and how he sustained this practice throughout the years and some of the key lessons learned that he can share with our listeners.

Creative entrepreneurship also comes with unique challenges. How do we balance creativity with commercial needs? How do we scale and fund our projects? How do we create impact that inspires and transforms? Let’s navigate these opportunities and challenges together.