November 2021 www.womanthismonth.com 52 PEOPLE | interview Artist Marylou Herbert has been splashing walls in Bahrain with visuals that can set the mood for their spaces and actually make onlookers stand and stare. She talks to Behnaz Sanjana about how this came about. MUSINGS ON MURALS The blow-up of a woman’s face on a café’s wall gives the space a fresh, cheerful vibe; the interiors have a personality that guests can immediately associate with it. The powder blue background and gold details in the strikingly lifelike eyes and the floral imagery around her reflect elements from the café’s décor, making the mural cohesive with the overall interior. The larger-than-life visual could easily be thought to be a print, but is, in fact, the detailed handiwork of Marylou Herbert. “I like to work on huge spaces,” says Marylou. “My art sometimes takes a few months to complete”. But this is not the genre of art that Marylou learnt at art school in France. “I was taught the very classical form of art; like you would see, for instance, in Versailles. Gold leaves, patina, and all that.” An offer to intern with a French company in Bahrain lured her to the island’s sunny shores, and she was happy to stay on when they employed her fulltime. Two years on, Marylou decided to branch out on her own. “The company was into more of French classical art and decorative painting, and I wanted to express myself with contemporary art, so I decided to start my own business four years ago.” She wasn’t sure whether it would all work out for her, but the gutsy youngster listened to her heart and took a leap of faith anyway. “I was only 24 at the time,” she says. “It did sound like a crazy idea, but I had nothing to lose, so I tried. And word about my work spread and soon I realised that I could live my dream!” The timing was perfect, as little cafés and classy terrace restaurants were beginning to pop up in Bahrain, and were on the lookout for someone to add a touch of verve to their interiors. Needless to say, the first project was stressful. “It was for a new café, and I was nervous because I had to complete my work within a timeframe and ultimately the client needs to be happy with the end result,” she says. “A big smile on the client’s face is everything.” Marylou has gone on to lend her artistic touch to many a popular venue in Bahrain, like Bushido, Gravity Village and Solymar beach amongst others. She attributes her success to her versatility that allows her to give the client exactly what they’re looking for. “I do not stick to a
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