One Person, Many Talents. Interview With Bashar Belal

by Alexandra Mansilla

One Person, Many Talents. Interview With Bashar Belal

22 Mar 2024

Bashar Belal describes himself as a multidisciplinary/interior architect. “Multi” here transcends any boundaries. He is involved in A TON OF ACTIVITIES (apologies for the capital letters, but they truly convey the number of his pursuits). We recently had a talk with him to dive into his journey and gain insight into his various ventures. Surprisingly, we found out that he also creates his own paintings!

— So, Bashar, you came to Dubai when you were one year old. How was it? Can you describe your childhood?

— My childhood was very basic. Honestly, we were not rich, not poor, just middle class. I was raised as family-oriented; family has always been an important part of my life. My parents were very focused on studying, which is a cultural thing, especially in the Arab world.

My parents had a balanced approach, their own technique: if my mum was upset, my dad was the easy one, and vice versa.

Another important aspect of my childhood was that it felt very adult-like because I was the eldest, and I had to take care of my younger sister after school while my parents were working. I always felt the responsibility of being the man of the house, even at a young age. We would come back from school, and I would ensure my sister ate and help her with everything.

I remember eagerly anticipating my mum's return from work every day to spend time with her before bedtime. That was one of the highlights of my childhood since my mum worked most of the time. So, I would wait eagerly for that hour or two before bedtime to see my mum and spend time with her. That is about it regarding my childhood.

— You have a sister and a brother. Tell us more about them, please.

— My sister is three years younger than me. My brother Adam is 10 years younger than me, and he currently lives in Madrid, Spain, pursuing his dream of professional football.

Adam has always been my best friend; we are super close. I am close to my sister, too, but with my brother… it is different. He really looks up to me, so I feel like I have a bigger responsibility towards him. He tries to copy everything I do, so being a role model for him is a big deal.

That has basically been my childhood — being the eldest in the house and taking on responsibilities when my parents weren't around. My dad taught me to be responsible with money, and my mum taught me to care for the house. That is how I grew up — managing time, the house, and the finances.

Photo: Fedya Ro

— And what did your parents do? What do they do now?

— My mum is now a housewife. Honestly, I wouldn't want her to work; I feel it is our responsibility to care for her. My dad has worked as a project manager in various fields. He has been involved in office furniture, carpets, ceramics, sanitary ware, and interior design, working for different companies as a supplier. Now, he is a full-on project manager, overseeing projects from start to finish. This involves coordinating with construction teams, civil engineers, interior architects, and others involved in the project.

He has always been a hard worker, and despite us being middle class, if not a little lower, I saw my dad juggle everything. He taught me valuable life lessons that I am grateful for today. He helped me understand our financial situation, from rent and school fees to other expenses. Growing up, my dad and I developed a close relationship. We are best friends and the men of the house together.

— When parents are hardworking, children often have two paths they can take — either to become hardworking or dependent. It is cool that you managed to avoid the latter!

— I didn't become dependent because my father was hardworking, but we never reached a point where I solely relied on him. I remember that, during school, I got into selling movies. We used to download films from uTorrent and BitTorrent, burn them onto DVDs, and then sell them at school. It was obviously illegal, and the school didn't know about it. But I just wanted to succeed, inspired by watching my father work hard.

Even during university, I had another business reselling shoes. I would buy Nike shoes and resell them at a different price. That lasted for about a year and a half. Then I got into Instagram photography and everything else. I always had the mindset of working hard because of my father's influence. I didn't rely on him because we never got to a point where I didn't have to work and had everything handed to me.

My father made sure we understood the value of things. While we had what we needed, we never took things for granted. I remember I lost my iPhone 5 in a cab, and I spent six months without a phone. I saved up to buy a new one, and when I was ready to buy it, my dad said, "Keep your money. I'll buy you one." He didn't buy it immediately — it was a lesson in not taking things for granted.

That was my childhood — my father and mother raised me with the same values, using a technique where one pushes and the other pulls. It is an amazing approach, and I will definitely raise my kids the same way.

— So, you are deeply involved in the creative industry now. But growing up, you thought you would become a doctor or an engineer. What changed?

— It was a very cultural thing in my family. My parents wanted the best for me, and the prevailing mindset was that professions like medicine or engineering would lead to financial stability. This is a common scenario in our region. My parents would have been extremely proud if I became a doctor — Dr. Bashar — or an engineer — Engineer Bashar. However, now they are proud of me regardless of my career choice.

This mindset was pervasive not just within my immediate family but also among my extended relatives and cousins. Even when I visited Jordan, for example, everyone seemed to be striving for careers in medicine or engineering. It was the norm.

But I was completely lost. I didn’t know what major to choose. One thing was certain — I knew it wasn't going to be medicine because of the extensive years of studying involved. It was too long, and I am always in a rush. I didn’t want to study many years, I wanted to do everything in three years and start earning money.

I chose civil engineering because it was just four years of studying and, as I thought, aligned with my interests in building and creativity. But eventually, it was a total failure. I had no clue. I was lost. It was just not for me. I didn’t like Physics and Maths. I just wanted to be somewhere else. So, I decided to change my major and to study the interior design. I graduated with my Bachelor, then got my Masters in Milan. And here I am!

Photo: Fedya Ro

— But were you surrounded with creativity in your childhood?

— I was definitely very organised, even in my creativity. For example, I remember taking notes in school with three different colours. I would write the question in blue and the answer in black; when the teacher gave a comment, I would write it in red. I always had that creative side, though I didn't fully realise it.

I used to colour, for example, in restaurants here in Dubai. Some places would give kids a colouring book, and I always enjoyed doing it in the best way possible. So, that side of me was always there, even if I didn't fully express it then.

While my friends played games like Call of Duty and others on PlayStation, I was never interested in them. I preferred games more about constructing and customising, like Sims or GTA, where you could design your house or car.

— Did you know the magic password in Sims that gave you endless money?

— No, but I wish I knew that! I had that in GTA, though. I used to play GTA, and I had all the cheat codes, but for Sims, no, I never had them.

— With that code, you could have $999 999, as I remember…

— I might consider playing the game again.

— Do you remember what houses you built there?

— I would build the house with whatever money we had and make the best of it. I lived the life of managing money, cleaning up, reorganising, etc. Then, I would just start a new game, constructing another house with a different layout, sometimes varying the number of rooms. Money was always limited, and I didn't have cheat codes. So, sometimes, I would focus on the kitchen and neglect everything else, or I would do it poorly. Other times, I would concentrate on the bedrooms and handle the rest normally, or I would focus on the outdoors. Eventually, I would just restart. I have this love for constructing something new. I never actually completed the life goals in the game; it was more about starting fresh every time and building something new.

Photo: Fedya Ro

— Leaving engineering and entering the creative industry weren’t you afraid of being without money? Just because we live in reality where there are a lot of creative people.

— It was definitely a challenging decision. My mum had always envisioned me as an engineer or a doctor, following the path of my cousins and other relatives. When I realised that engineering wasn't for me, I came back home and had a conversation with my dad. He said: “I don't mind you finding your path and pursuing it. But if you choose something, you need to excel in it. I will support your decision, but you need to do well in your choice.”

My mum had no idea about it because I had spoken to my dad separately first. She is quite sensitive, so when I told her, it was a drama. She cried the whole day.

So, transitioning into the creative industry was daunting. I had yet to learn about the competitive landscape or what the pay would be like. However, I was determined to succeed and kept exploring different avenues. I dabbled in interior design, continued with my photography, and even tried modelling at university. Eventually, I found my way onto Instagram, which opened up opportunities for creative directing and producing. I have always admired people like Virgil Abloh and Chris Brown, who excel in multiple fields, and I aspire to follow in their footsteps.

While it was a risky move, it was one I had to make. I couldn't continue down a path that didn't resonate with me, and taking that leap has allowed me to discover my true passion and potential.

Photo: Fedya Ro

— Photography, creative directing, interior design and a lot of multiple things. What do you like the most?

— I feel like the creative process is similar across all disciplines. It starts with an idea, followed by research to expand on that idea. Whether it is browsing through Pinterest or platforms like ArchDaily for interior design inspiration or exploring photography websites for visual concepts, the process remains consistent. You then work on developing a creative concept, often accompanied by a concept statement.

There is a saying that goes, "A jack of all trades is a master of none." But the completion of that saying is, "But oftentimes better than a master of one." This quote resonates with me because it suggests that being proficient in multiple areas can be more advantageous than specialising in just one. I find it very inspiring because I believe I can excel in various fields while still enjoying the process equally.

For instance, I love photography but dislike feeling pressured to produce work. I prefer to avoid taking on photography jobs where I am merely seen as a tool. Instead, I want to be valued for my creative input. That is why much of the photography you see from me is done on my own terms, capturing my own vision. While I do get paid for some projects, it is important to me that clients understand and appreciate my perspective, hiring me for my vision rather than just my technical skills behind the camera.

The same story is with interior design. I didn't opt for a full-time role because, in that setup, you become just a tool. If I were to work in an interior design office, for instance, someone else would always make the final decisions. They would dictate changes like "change this colour to that" because that is how they want to present it to the client. However, the client doesn't even know me or the creative process behind the project. That is not the kind of dynamic I wanted.

Now, as a freelancer, I have the opportunity to work on projects where my vision is trusted and valued. For instance, I am currently working on a villa for a close friend who is an international DJ based in Dubai. He has seen my work, is familiar with my portfolio, and trusts my vision. When he bought his house, he said, "Bashar, I want you to work on it." It is a collaborative effort where our visions align, and we are working hand in hand to bring it to life. That is the kind of creative environment I thrive in — where my creativity is respected, and I am not just seen as a technical tool.

Flexibility is crucial, of course. As artists, we need to be adaptable because clients often have their own visions. But ultimately, as creatives, we need to maintain our artistic integrity. If you are just looking for someone to execute your vision without any input, then hiring a full-time photographer might be the way to go. But if you are open to exploring different perspectives and ideas, it is essential to collaborate with a variety of creatives who can contribute their unique insights and expertise.

— How can you describe your touch in interior design? What cues would indicate to me that a space was designed by you?

— A lot of angles, fewer curves, which is exactly the opposite of my inspiration in architecture and interior design — Zaha Hadid. I don't like curves, to be honest. I use the colour red in a lot of details. I feel like it is very powerful.

Obviously, if I share, for example, my senior design project, you understand what I am exactly saying because I got to be as creative as I wanted to be. It was the only project that I worked on alone. So I got to do whatever I actually wanted to do: a lot of white and neutral colours, a hint of red, and super struct. Also, I like to play with elevations a lot.

— Bashar, are you a perfectionist?

— Hundred per cent. I do have a bit of OCD, haha. Everything has to be super organised and perfectly straight. Even on a shoot set, if I place my laptop or phone down, they have to be aligned perfectly. I am all about cleanliness and precision.

Photo: Fedya Ro

— Do you prefer working in a team or alone?

— It definitely depends on what team it is for me. I am very good with people; I have that side of me that knows how to deal with people no matter who they are and what they do.

Honestly, I have had friends who are bad boys, friends who are star students, friends who are police officers, and friends who went to jail; I can be friends with anyone. So I feel like it is the same; it reflects on my work. I can work with multiple people. I just need to properly get to know them. I always prefer to get to know them before we start working, have a casual meeting, just talk casually, and then get to work. It helps me in managing how I want to work with them.

I enjoy working with teams, and most of my successful projects involve working with teams, but I must be honest: I like to have control. For example, if I am directing or producing a shoot, I always refer to the same people because I just have that connection with them and ease of work. I don't want to risk working with someone else. I enjoy working with people I have previously worked with, but depending on the project, sometimes you obviously need someone new, and that is when I get to meet them first, get to know them, and then work with them.

I have always been a team player, and I feel that this is the key to success. However, if it is going to be a tricky and sticky situation, I prefer to work on my own and achieve my full vision, even if it is not the same quality. Even if I reach 95 per cent, that extra 5 per cent means the world to me. I would rather reach 95 per cent with peace of mind than reach 100 per cent with none.

— And here I remember one guy who described you as “zero point punctuality”. How is that possible?

— Only with friends! I have a super busy schedule, and I am always rushing, doing multiple things. I am a perfectionist, and I would love to get to all my friends on time, but I am always late. I do feel guilty sometimes, but fortunately, my friends understand and forgive me!

However, in a professional setting, I think many people can relate to this. It is true. I am punctual; I do get to meetings on time. I am on time if it is a proper meeting and set-up. I showed up to this call on time. Like, I am punctual if it is something formal. But yeah, if I am with friends or it is an outing or a dinner, I could be late…

— So, now let’s talk about your jewelry. What are your favourite pieces?

— These, that you can see on me now, are my essentials. These three rings are just silver and stones, really, and this one is from Cartier, a gift from my mum. I have two other identical ones from a thrift shop in Milan.

Photo: Fedya Ro

These [Bashar points on his necklace] are not branded; one is for Palestine, and one is an Arabic symbol for protection that my mum gave me. It is a Quran Verse (Ayatul Kursi).

Another ring is a black onyx stone that my dad and I share. So we both have the same black stone. My mum got this for me and my father, so we both have one from her. And also I have a yellow ring from Valencia.

— You collect jewelry from any part of the world.

— Yes! I travel a lot and try to buy something from each country. It is like a memory.

— What projects are you involved in now?

— The biggest project I have worked on recently is the music video for Spark, a Brazilian artist who also plays football with Cristiano Ronaldo at Al Nassr FC. His real name is Anderson Talisca.

I handled this music video's entire production process from A to Z. They flew in from Saudi, and I managed everything from hiring the team to working on the outfits, styling, set rental, permits, and more. It was the first time I had full control over a project like this. I also directed it creatively both on and off-set. It is definitely my most recent and proudest accomplishment. I am excited to work on more projects like this and collaborate with other artists. We worked together to bring my vision to life, and the story behind the song made it even more meaningful. The video has garnered millions of views on YouTube, and we are incredibly proud of it.

Also, I recently directed a very important shoot for the regional launch of Mugler. I feel like it is one of my biggest projects in terms of directing and creative directing.

— Now, again, about your YouTube channel. There some friends of yours gave you descriptions. How can you comment on it? The first one is indecisive.

— I struggle with making decisions. I care a lot about people and my friends, and I feel like it is easier for me to be flexible and let them choose. Most of my friends describe me as indecisive because, for example, when we are deciding where to go for dinner, my answer is always, "Whatever you guys want." I am not picky; I can eat Japanese, Italian, American, or whatever they prefer.

I can make decisions for myself when I am the only one affected by it. It is super easy for me to know what I want and how to get there. But when other people are involved, I care a lot about their happiness and comfort, especially my family and close friends. I am often indecisive because I prioritise their preferences and let them choose. I want them to be comfortable and happy, and I can adapt to different situations depending on the group. If we are playing billiards, I can join. If we are going to the cinema, count me in. If we are just hanging out in the room, that is fine, too.

— By the way, do you collect something?

— Collecting... I am definitely not a materialistic person, but I definitely love my things. I definitely have a lot of collectables, like memories. I collect all the memories; for example, if I travel with my family and there is a room key from a hotel, I keep the room key as a memory. If I travel with my brother for a football tournament and they give us a badge, I keep it as a memory. I collect stuff I care about.

I have a lot of bags, watches, and jewelry. My room has no space at all. It has two wardrobes with an insane amount of clothes, jewelry, and watches. It is literally packed.

— Do you live with your parents now?

— Yes, I do. I feel like that decision is completely dependent on us being very family-oriented. My mum is the sensitive one, and if I move out, she is going to be depressed for sure. She still cries about my brother every week, so if I move out, she is going to be in a complete mess.

— And do you paint now?

— I engage in a lot of activities, honestly. I paint, I sketch (even tattoos), I draw. It depends on my mood completely. But the last time I painted was during COVID. I have three paintings from that time, and they all reflect the strange and uncertain period we were going through. I bought acrylic paint and canvas online and just let my thoughts flow onto the canvas.

That is something I have never shared before, by the way. I don't think many people have seen them either, maybe just my family and a friend or two. Each painting has the concept behind it written down in my notes. I would like to share them with you.

Red and orange paintings — حفلة براسي. It translates to “A party in my head” and is based on intimate feelings. In this abstract, I reflect on what goes through my mind daily. I reflect on what my mind goes through when it comes to taking decisions by comparing the human brain to a volcano. Volcanic eruptions occur because of pressure, directly connected to a human’s mind exploding after being under so much pressure and overthinking.

Overthinking is putting too much time into thinking about or analysing something in a way that is more harmful than helpful and prevents you from acting, doing new things, and making progress in life.

Photo: Fedya Ro

Green and nude one — ‎الإبعاد الاجتماعي. It translates to “Social Distancing” and is based on a Global Pandemic. In this conceptual abstract, I reflect on a futuristic look at what is going to happen if social distancing is practiced everywhere properly. I mainly shed light on the importance of social distancing.

The artwork clearly shows two different spaces in which one is a complete mess, showing “Green” taking over “Nudes”, which is the current stage of life. While the second space is an optimistic look at how life goes back to normal in the near future “Nudes” remain safe.

by Alexandra Mansilla