Carol Roque: I was exchanging messages with my friend Mhamed recently regarding his future endeavors in the art world when he asked me a few questions, in an informal impromptu-interview fashion. He mused on his at-first-glance take on my work and asked if I’d be offended if that was the only thing someone took from my work upon viewing it -abstract themes of coming of age and fantasy literature. I answered that it didn’t matter to me what someone took from my work, and that it was a success as long as it made them feel something, anything at all. I added that I did not have an explanation for my own work. Then, as it turns out, I prompted him by saying something like “if you think you can explain my work, be my guest!” Adding -I’d love to hear it! I imagine I said this jokingly, I can’t remember saying it, but Mhamed proceeded to think about it and told me he’d get back to me later.

In retrospect, that was a rather brash thing for me to say, whether meant it seriously or not, despite that uneasy feeling of having said something I wouldn’t expect myself to, I’m glad I said it. What Mhamed came up with resonated with me deeply, and I couldn’t help but want everyone who lays eyes on my work to have a chance to read it, too. His words struck me as incredibly thoughtful, beautiful, well conveyed, and better than anything I could ever come up with. With his permission I am publishing his words here and you can read them for yourself, below. Thanks Mhamed. Your words are a wonderfully dreamy narrative to my paintings, that I myself am motivated to upkeep.

Mhamed Kabal: “I am starting this at 9am. When I explore Carol Roque's body of work its easy to lose sight of time and space. I often look at the characters and wonder if ever meet any of them at a dimly lit watering hole, one rare rainy night in what they call the valley of the sun. Another part of me see each painting as a window a haunting yet beautiful netherworld populated by creatures far more humanistic than us. Upon reviewing some of the work that inspired Carol, I can say without a doubt that she excels in every areas that her contemporaries may have fallen short. The strongest talent at Roque's disposal is her capability to fire beautiful emotional discharges with every stroke on canvas, its far more than a portrait or a sketch, it an intimate unwritten story between her, the subject, the art and the viewer. It brings me much joy to know of her work and to know that she is still alive, well and active in this mad deteriorating world. I am finishing this at 11:40am.”

Mhamed Kabal aka hddnmgmt