Video: Meet Brit who challenges fast-paced world with 'petals'

Dubai - The Dubai Mall visitors can catch Robi Walters until April 21

A London-based mixed-media artist has turned a hallway at a mall in Dubai as studio for his live art installation that will be displayed and auctioned during Ramadan for the benefit of a charity in Dubai.
By making his work open to the public, Robi Walters, 44, aims to counter the fast-paced world with his work of art by drawing in viewers to the richness of his subject and detail in work.
The Dubai Mall visitors can catch him until April 21, at a stand next to Paris Gallery where he is creating one of his 'Petals' masterpieces, comprised of thousands of individually hand-cut petals from various recyclable materials.
Walters is using discarded objects like old cards and magazine covers and turn them into colourful collage of floral art.
Speaking to Khaleej Times on Tuesday, he said he wanted to captivate viewers with the intricacy of his work.
"We are in world where everything is so quick and almost disposable that to make something very intricate would sometimes make the viewers slow down. And often they would ask: 'how long did it take to make such a work of art?

So how does Walters create his art? He says he first collects old cards and spray paint them on one side. Once dried, he manually cuts them into shapes of petals. He then glues them into a 4ft long and 4ft wide wooden board from the outskirts going into the centre of the board. The finish product is a kaleidoscopic burst of colours that draw viewers in.
In the past seven years that he has gone full time doing 'Petals' and has done around 80 art pieces, which were displayed in various galleries around the world.
For his art piece in Dubai, blue is the dominant colour and it signifies calmness and peace.
"The artwork will be in the form of thousand lotus petals, which is in the meditation form," he said.
As for the fund that will be raised in the forthcoming silent auction, Walters hopes it will fetch a high price as all proceeds will go for the benefit of Emirates Autism Society.
angel@khaleejtimes.com
 

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