Rather than paintings and sculptures, French contemporary artist Thomas Lelu uses words to communicate his art.
Lelu, whose work mixes elements of graffiti and the strength of words, describes his work as a combination of language and pictures – something that is "imperfect but balanced".
His latest exhibition, Calm Down It's Just Art, is currently at the Zidoun-Bossuyt Gallery in Dubai and features canvases on which he has spray-painted phrases.
Lelu, who has been painting since 2003, says he chose to focus on words after receiving advice from his mother, a psychoanalyst. “She said to me, ‘People are about language. This is the essence of the human being,’” he tells The National.
He also uses social media to display his art, often using a ballpoint pen to write on paper and sharing the work on Instagram.
His current style was developed during the Covid-19 pandemic, when he shared his feelings through notes on social media. “This moment was difficult for everyone,” he says. “So, I chose to open up about what I was experiencing and that became the beginning of a new dimension in my process and my work.”
Lelu began posting on his Instagram account once a week and soon noticed his work being widely shared. “When I write something, I first post it on another account, one that doesn’t have too many followers," he says. "I experiment there, seeing how these words resonate with a smaller group. If it’s successful, then I post it on my official account.
“After that, many people repost the text. Some even use it for tattoos, wallpapers and other personal projects. Sometimes, I repost the pictures they create using my words and, in doing so, I rediscover my own text in a completely new way. So you see, it’s really a collaboration with people from the very beginning.”
He says his show in Dubai represents a natural progression, after having his works published in a book. He believes the use of spray paint on large canvases sends a big message.
His work is "not exactly graffiti, and I'm not a street artist," he says, in fact it is "more about the spirit of a protest, where you’re claiming a message and saying something important".
While many artists use social media to publicise their art, Lelu views it as an integral part of his work. He says he joined Instagram early on, after the platform was recommended by a friend. “For me, that's one of the most important parts of my work," he adds. "It's funny because, at first, I was using something like MySpace and one day I was at a fashion show with a friend, a philosopher who is quite famous in France. I was using my phone with a very bad filter and he said to me, 'You should try Instagram.'
"So I did, and that was really the beginning of the work I do today. It was a recommendation from a friend who happens to be a specialist in language, which makes it even more interesting.”
Lelu describes Instagram as a big factory, where strangers interact with each other on a daily basis. “I don't want to work in a studio just painting things with a glass of wine and some jazz playing – even though I love jazz,” he says.
The most important thing is talking to people, he says. “That's what my work is about. It's about language, yes, but also about meeting people, having conversations and changing – both myself and others. It's not just about the medium, it's about a social connection.”
Thomas Lelu: Calm Down It's Just Art is at Zidoun-Bossuyt Gallery in Dubai until June 14
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
The Buckingham Murders
Starring: Kareena Kapoor Khan, Ash Tandon, Prabhleen Sandhu
Director: Hansal Mehta
Rating: 4 / 5
The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4-cyl turbo
Power: 201hp at 5,200rpm
Torque: 320Nm at 1,750-4,000rpm
Transmission: 6-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 8.7L/100km
Price: Dh133,900
On sale: now
Our legal consultant
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Kumulus Water
Started: 2021
Founders: Iheb Triki and Mohamed Ali Abid
Based: Tunisia
Sector: Water technology
Number of staff: 22
Investment raised: $4 million
Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
- Priority access to new homes from participating developers
- Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
- Flexible payment plans from developers
- Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
- DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
If you go
The flights
Emirates flies from Dubai to Seattle from Dh5,555 return, including taxes.
The car
Hertz offers compact car rental from about $300 (Dh1,100) per week, including taxes. Emirates Skywards members can earn points on their car hire through Hertz.
The national park
Entry to Mount Rainier National Park costs $30 for one vehicle and passengers for up to seven days. Accommodation can be booked through mtrainierguestservices.com. Prices vary according to season. Rooms at the Holiday Inn Yakima cost from $125 per night, excluding breakfast.
Ferrari 12Cilindri specs
Engine: naturally aspirated 6.5-liter V12
Power: 819hp
Torque: 678Nm at 7,250rpm
Price: From Dh1,700,000
Available: Now
Our legal consultant
Name: Dr Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
Company: Instabug
Founded: 2013
Based: Egypt, Cairo
Sector: IT
Employees: 100
Stage: Series A
Investors: Flat6Labs, Accel, Y Combinator and angel investors
MORE ON TURKEY'S SYRIA OFFENCE
The%20specs
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Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Score
New Zealand 266 for 9 in 50 overs
Pakistan 219 all out in 47.2 overs
New Zealand win by 47 runs
New Zealand lead three-match ODI series 1-0
Next match: Zayed Cricket Stadium, Abu Dhabi, Friday
The essentials
What: Emirates Airline Festival of Literature
When: Friday until March 9
Where: All main sessions are held in the InterContinental Dubai Festival City
Price: Sessions range from free entry to Dh125 tickets, with the exception of special events.
Hot Tip: If waiting for your book to be signed looks like it will be timeconsuming, ask the festival’s bookstore if they have pre-signed copies of the book you’re looking for. They should have a bunch from some of the festival’s biggest guest authors.
Information: www.emirateslitfest.com
Brief scores:
Everton 2
Walcott 21', Sigurdsson 51'
Tottenham 6
Son 27', 61', Alli 35', Kane 42', 74', Eriksen 48'
Man of the Match: Son Heung-min (Tottenham Hotspur)
Our legal consultant
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
The Freedom Artist
By Ben Okri (Head of Zeus)
Dr Afridi's warning signs of digital addiction
Spending an excessive amount of time on the phone.
Neglecting personal, social, or academic responsibilities.
Losing interest in other activities or hobbies that were once enjoyed.
Having withdrawal symptoms like feeling anxious, restless, or upset when the technology is not available.
Experiencing sleep disturbances or changes in sleep patterns.
What are the guidelines?
Under 18 months: Avoid screen time altogether, except for video chatting with family.
Aged 18-24 months: If screens are introduced, it should be high-quality content watched with a caregiver to help the child understand what they are seeing.
Aged 2-5 years: Limit to one-hour per day of high-quality programming, with co-viewing whenever possible.
Aged 6-12 years: Set consistent limits on screen time to ensure it does not interfere with sleep, physical activity, or social interactions.
Teenagers: Encourage a balanced approach – screens should not replace sleep, exercise, or face-to-face socialisation.
Source: American Paediatric Association
New schools in Dubai
The specs: 2019 Mini Cooper
Price, base: Dh141,740 (three-door) / Dh165,900 (five-door)
Engine: 1.5-litre four-cylinder (Cooper) / 2.0-litre four-cylinder (Cooper S)
Power: 136hp @ 4,500rpm (Cooper) / 192hp @ 5,000rpm (Cooper S)
Torque: 220Nm @ 1,480rpm (Cooper) / 280Nm @ 1,350rpm (Cooper S)
Transmission: Seven-speed automatic
Fuel consumption, combined: 4.8L to 5.4L / 100km
How to watch Ireland v Pakistan in UAE
When: The one-off Test starts on Friday, May 11
What time: Each day’s play is scheduled to start at 2pm UAE time.
TV: The match will be broadcast on OSN Sports Cricket HD. Subscribers to the channel can also stream the action live on OSN Play.
In numbers: China in Dubai
The number of Chinese people living in Dubai: An estimated 200,000
Number of Chinese people in International City: Almost 50,000
Daily visitors to Dragon Mart in 2018/19: 120,000
Daily visitors to Dragon Mart in 2010: 20,000
Percentage increase in visitors in eight years: 500 per cent
How to help
Send “thenational” to the following numbers or call the hotline on: 0502955999
2289 – Dh10
2252 – Dh 50
6025 – Dh20
6027 – Dh 100
6026 – Dh 200
'How To Build A Boat'
Jonathan Gornall, Simon & Schuster
Company profile
Name: Tratok Portal
Founded: 2017
Based: UAE
Sector: Travel & tourism
Size: 36 employees
Funding: Privately funded
BRIEF SCORES:
Toss: Nepal, chose to field
UAE 153-6: Shaiman (59), Usman (30); Regmi 2-23
Nepal 132-7: Jora 53 not out; Zahoor 2-17
Result: UAE won by 21 runs
Series: UAE lead 1-0
