Casting a spell

T-Mag Wednesday 18/July/2018 14:52 PM
By: Times News Service
Casting a spell

“I told myself, ‘let your presentation and work do the talking,’ and it worked,” recalled Nofal when asked about how he mastered his art. “After all, it’s all about hard work, and nothing comes in a day.”

“Impossible” is always the first word that comes to mind whenever a magician snaps his fingers and a ball disappears right in front of our eyes. There is something magical (no pun intended) about this illusion-filled art that brings about an elevated sense of excitement, mixed with deep curiosity.

Even though we are aware that these creative folks possess no real powers, but just a clever use of psychological techniques, we cannot help but admire their creativity and dedication to the art.

So how did Nofal make an entry into the elite club of the best Arab illusionists? He dreamed big, trained hard, and gave his best, as it had always been his dream to explore the magical world of the impossible.

Born and raised in the coastal town of Suwaiq in Al Batinah, the 27-year-old magician, who always has a number of tricks up his sleeve, developed a fascination for magic when he was still quite young.

As a child, Nofal would spend hours watching magic shows, immersing himself in the illusions he witnessed from his TV set. He knew he had a passion for the art and a thirst that needed to be quenched, which was fuelled even further by the works of famous magicians that he grew up watching. He began falling in love with the idea of practicing magic tricks, especially the ones that required tremendous amounts of courage. Soon enough, he started inventing tricks and cooking up creative concepts all by himself.

A few years later, he found himself wanting to dive deeper into the field. His eagerness pushed him to explore the possibility of pursuing magic as a performance art. He was curious about discovering the unknown.

Given his determination, he knew he could do it. His gut feeling was spot on.

“I have always loved new adventures and challenges,” he said.
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To get the ball rolling, he started training with professional illusionist Ahmed Al Kiali from the Kingdom of Jordan. Through his classes, Nofal learned new and exciting tricks, and then began developing himself and honing his own skills.

“I am truly grateful to my mentor,” he said, adding that Al Kiali was the reason why he has become the polished artist that he is today.
This marked the beginning of his destined journey to glory.

Even though he faced various challenges in Oman, which was quite unfamiliar with the art, he contemplated and eventually decided to change the social perception about his craft, rather than give up on his passion.

His family and friends showered him with endless support before his work piqued the public’s interest, thus giving him the motivation to showcase his skill to the world.
His impressive tricks soon became a favourite and his social media following began to skyrocket. His visibility and credibility as an illusionist started getting established in the Gulf.

So what kind of magic tricks has Nofal mastered?
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Nofal is a fan of risky performances that allow all his creative juices to flow. “I am always looking for the most suspenseful and most dangerous performances,” he said.

Though he is a fervent lover of extreme illusions, such as playing with fire, munching on glass, walking on sharp nails, vanishing from sight, reading thoughts, and hypnosis, he does other tricks for children and for the faint-hearted, including what most of us have come to know magicians for — card tricks.

How does it feel to be ranked the 3rd best magician in the Middle East, we asked.

“I am the happiest I could ever be, thanks to my fans and all my followers on social media, because they are my number one inspiration,” said Nofal.

“I owe my success to my followers and supporters who keep me motivated in my work,” he added.

Through many local and regional performances and competitions, Nofal has earned a number of titles which have put him atop the list of the best magicians in town. He was placed third in a competition in Bahrain, and earned first place in another contest in Saudi Arabia. He has also earned the title of ‘ambassador’ for a variety of fields, including health, education, and the environment. He also performs at police conferral ceremonies.

Nofal has established himself in the field of illusions, and he is now working on launching a YouTube channel to share his talent with the world while also inviting social media influencers from across the region. We shall keep an eye out for it. —[email protected]