Spotlight.
Malath Abbas
INTRODUCTION
Malath Abbas is a game designer, artist and creative producer working on experimental and meaningful games and experiences in Scotland. Malath is a founding member of Biome Collective, a creative studio, community and digital space for people to create, collaborate and explore new frontiers in game design, digital art and technology. With over 10 years working in games and arts in Scotland, Malath has created a diverse portfolio of work and has exhibited internationally. Malath has a passion for the arts and has a track record of cross-disciplinary collaborative projects across sectors. Through close collaboration, partnership and workshop facilitation Malath has worked to demystify digital and games to diverse groups and settings.
INTERVIEW
How did you get into your creative practice? What initially inspired you?
It’s been a long and winding journey. I found the educational system challenging, but after years of study and working in a family business I eventually completed a Masters related to game design and moved to Scotland to pursue my career.
I was into comics, animation and computers as a kid, and that never really left me. Combined with a desire to work with people, making games became a great way to bring a lot of my interests together.
What themes do you tend to interrogate in your creative practices?
In general, I like to make meaningful work and respond to contemporary themes around identity, the human spirit and joy.
That has led to a wide range of work, from creating the BAFTA Scotland nominated game Killbox, which explored drone warfare, to developing Shpeel, an interactive mental health tool for the London Design Biennale.
What is your favourite project you’ve ever worked on and why?
I have far too many projects that are close to my heart. Possibly Hope, which is a semi-biographical game I am developing with members of my family. The project acts as a time capsule of our shared lived experience, coming from Iraq and settling in the UK. It feels personal, but it also gives us a way to preserve and explore those memories together.
What advice would you have for creatives of colour looking to get into your creative practices?
Networking is important, and don’t underestimate the power of simply reaching out to people. If you admire someone’s work and want to connect, drop them an email or invite them for a coffee. Be open to learning from people, but also remember that you have something to share. Building relationships works both ways.
What are you currently working on?
I am currently working on an immersive walking game called The Game, which explores memories centred around football as a collective experience. We are capturing everything around the match itself, including the journey to the stadium and the post-match experience. Win or lose, football culture plays a significant role in people’s lives, communities and memories. We hope to capture some of that in a way that feels accessible to people whether they are football fans or not.
DISCOVER MORE:
Website: www.malathabbas.com