Last year, US film “Bucks of America,” directed by Aki Aleong, told the true story of soldiers who fought in the American Revolutionary War at the Battle of Bunker Hill, which occurred on June 17, 1775 during the siege of Boston.
The film’s poster was drawn by Algerian artist Shams El Din Belarbi (known as Chemsou), who spoke with The Arab Weekly about his art and how he began working in Hollywood.
Belarbi noted that he has painted posters for numerous international films, including “Honor,” “News” and “Bolo Yeung Story,” among others.
He chose to draw the poster for “Bucks of America” traditionally by hand, without using modern techniques available through design software.
Belarbi told The Arab Weekly he hoped to revive this form of art, which has grown increasingly rare with the advent of new technology.
“Museums have become the only place to see ancient classic, traditional art, which is facing today a difficult situation due to digital technology that has eliminated the role of the plastic artist,” Belarbi said.
“I thought about returning this art to its position in a modern way to keep pace with the digital wave but I faced many difficulties, the first of which was how I could present the idea to the producers and convince them that this art can be a contemporary distinguished art,” he added.
Belarbi said his passion for this unique style began early on. “In childhood, I was attracted by the bright pictures of movie stars, so I cut them from newspapers and redrew them.”
At school, Belarbi focused more on art than other subjects such as mathematics and physics. However, his family’s poor living conditions eventually forced him to drop out of school and look for work. He began by decorating shops and old furniture items.
“It was a cruel phase, in which I was exploited. I worked for people who did not give me a fee for what I achieved. But I also met people who helped me and encouraged me,” he said.
On being one of the few Arab and African artists to paint posters traditionally, he said “I am happy with this honour. I took this art out of the museum into the exhibition halls of the world’s largest film festival.”
This article has been adapted from its original source.
