S: In a nutshell, it was
developed at KAUST’s VentureLab in 2012. For 3 months I continuously asked Yousef for business advice since he was more knowledgeable. It only made sense that he should join Mariam Hamidaddin and myself to make the great team that we are today! When I first pitched the idea, VentureLab team was not sold. However with each week, their belief in Onqoud grew. Onqoud continues to be one of the alumni referred to as a proof of VentureLab’s success.
What’s your biggest inspiration?
Y: Seeing passionate people.
It doesn’t matter what it is that you are passionate about. If I see you being passionate about something I will feel inspired.
S: I hate to admit this but I’m
an Instagram addict. I think the reason for my addiction is the fact that I’m following so many inspiring people. Instagram continues to be one of the main keys to endless knowledge about healthy food, yoga and fitness.
What kind of mediums do you work in?
Y: I am very passionate about experimentation. I love all mediums equally, but if I had to specify a medium I enjoy the most, I would say it’s “new media,” which is the intersection of art and technology.
46 DESTINATION RIYADH MARCH 2015
S: I would say my favorite
medium depends on my mood, really. For instance, when I edit a photo on my phone, it’s usually a quick release for me and I get to share that form of expression on my Instagram.
Do you remember your first artwork?
Y: I’ve started dabbling with art and making stuff in general a long time ago so it would be difficult to say what exactly was my “first” artwork. My first exhibited work was a piece called “Processed by Hierarchy” which I exhibited in Istanbul back in 2010 as part of Edge of Arabia’s Transistion exhibition.
S: I can’t say I do, but it
depends on what you consider an artwork. I do remember our 1st grade teacher asking us to draw the four seasons. She never made sure we wrote our names, so when she put them together in booklets for us to take she mixed up students’ drawings. Obviously I’m still upset about it because I still remember that the four drawings my mom saved are not all mine. I don’t even remember the teacher’s name, but I do remember this isolated incident. Thankfully I did get the snowman I drew and he’s survived for 20 years! Onqoud