EXHIBITION CATALOGUE 2025-2026

Meet the Artist

Mariyam Haleem

Meet the Artist

Born in Male’, Maldives in 1982, Mary Halym is a self-taught artist specialising in botanical art. ‘It is more about understanding the incredible life around us’, she says. Diving into the intricate details of locally grown plants, fruits, and vegetables, she makes interesting and somewhat educational compositions that show the different stages of its life. Inspired by scientific botanical illustrations and internationally renowned botanical artists, she delves into each work with patience in a slow process of bringing a likeness to reality using watercolour as her medium. Her work has been exhibited in the UK and in the Maldives. She lives and works in Male’, Maldives.

Maamelaa

As a dedicated botanical artist from Maldives, my work focuses on capturing the beauty of locally found flora. I take time to closely observe their shapes and colours, aiming for scientific accuracy while adding a personal, artistic twist. Many works tell a story, capturing various stages of their growth starting from buds to flowers to fruit and sometimes decay. I use watercolor for its soft and transparent quality, which to me is the perfect medium to capture nature’s delicate details. Through this body of work, including flora found at Oaga Art Resort, I invite people to pause, look closer and notice the small, precious wonders we often overlook, celebrating the fragile life around us.