Adham AbdelMoneim, the 26-year-old Egyptian painter who goes by the brand name of “The Sultan Adham”, is making waves in the Middle East and garnering the attention of the art community and collectors alike with his unique mind-map paintings. The contemporary mind-map art, unlike conventional and archaic styles, captures the thoughts and emotions of the owner, thereby striking a personal chord. With its novelty — the state of being experimental and rather new to the Middle East — mind-map art is increasingly finding itself on the walls of art enthusiasts and collectors’ homes, adding an interesting, new dimension to existing collections. The brainchild of Adham AbdelMoneim, mind-map painting draws upon his creative inheritance from his iconic Egyptian artists/actors/performers, grandparents Hassan Mostafa and Mimi Gamal.
Adham 4“Art is an enchanting world,” says Adham. “My inspiration comes from the beautiful colours that God created in the art of life and how our minds, souls, and thoughts respond to this; how our moods and emotions trigger our day-to-day life. I aim to achieve that through my art — how a mix of different colours, shapes, and strokes can be a map of someone’s mind. What you’ll see in my artwork is a mind-map that gives you a brief example of confidence, experiences, love, hate, character, and much more.”
Although art runs through his veins, Adham truly discovered his painting prowess during the pandemic as he found himself increasingly confined indoors. The enabling household environment facilitated by his parents and grandparents — with whom he feels a deep connection — gave wings to his dreams of adding colours to people’s lives.
“The inclusiveness of the concept and art direction is what makes me excited to create more — how the heart and the brain both communicate together. The power of the human mind and the emotion of the human heart allow me to spread out the acrylic colours on the canvas and just paint my way through my thoughts — because what defines artists anyways? The power to express,” explains Adham.
Under the banner ‘The Sultan Paints’, he began his body of work at the pandemic onset. Within a couple of months, Adham’s paintings were selling out in reputable galleries in two-three days, with acclaimed international collectors vying to own customized mind-map paintings. His burst onto the art scene was such that he was holding solo exhibitions in no time, with “Mind Maps” at Karnik Gallery in Mayfair, London, being a notable one. People’s perceptions of life and day-to-day experiences were thus embodied in the form of paintings. Adham’s works have since been selling across the globe, especially in the Middle East.
Adham’s impact on the Middle East has been particularly noteworthy because of what he stands for — a young artist who dared to dream, with a goal of creating a first-of-its-kind movement in the region. In doing so, he has essentially blazed a new trail for budding Arab artists to make their mark on the world. “I want to convey the creativity and virtuosity of the Arabs to the world,” explains Adham. “There is so much clutter in this world, but I choose to see the beauty in every mind and intend to showcase it on the canvas.”
