"Self-portrait" Drawing

Maliek Kadi, a self-taught artist, was born in 2001 in Amman, Jordan. In 2003, he moved with his mother to Kharkiv in eastern Ukraine. His artistic journey began at the age of 17 when he started practicing street art under the pseudonym Badartist. In 2020, he began a series of works using asphalt and later shifted his focus to wallpaper, creating a series of paintings on canvas. In 2022, the war broke out, forcing him to evacuate to Lviv. There, at a factory, he took part in the production of anti-tank barriers and spikes to counter Russian military equipment, while also renting space at the same factory to continue his art practice. In August 2022, after returning to Kharkiv, he transformed his apartment into a studio and continued his painting. In February 2023, Maliek had to leave Ukraine as he was being actively searched for mobilization. He fled to Georgia, where he created his first works on stones. In 2023, his art was exhibited at the Museum of Contemporary Art of Spain (MACVAC).

Artist Statement
Through my art, I reflect on and satirize various themes, filtering them through the prism of my worldview. Much like photography, I capture moments that have deeply influenced me at different points in time. I strive to capture the emotional essence of each moment. I employ different materials and techniques, continuing to experiment. Overall, this underscores the importance for me of not simply replicating the external world, but expressing my vision and emotional perception of the subject, its true essence.