Artist Statement
|
My artistic practice began in Saudi Arabia, where I was born and raised. Making art was my leisure time hobby until I immigrated to the US and decided to be a full-time artist. In 2002, I earned an MFA from Minneapolis College of Art and Design, and since then, I have been practicing artmaking. My major media are printmaking and installation. However, painting, drawing, and animation strongly attract me. My dream masterpiece is to employ printmaking and animation in a large gallery installation.
Despite restrictions on depicting human forms in Saudi Arabia, I was drawn to figurative drawing and painting and fascinated by Modern Western artists. At the same time, in my daily life, I was immersed in Islamic art aesthetics, Arabic calligraphy, and local women's artistic traditions like henna patterns, Sadu design, and Al-qat art. I became conscious of such aesthetics when I moved to the US. Awakened by its absence, I rediscovered the richness of Islamic art and the genius of geometric and flowery design. I am in awe of the ability to create variable patterns using a single grid. |
|
As a result, my practice fuses two seemingly contradictory elements: the human figure and Islamic geometric abstraction. I have broken down the unconscious barriers that isolate these two worlds, melding them into one visual narrative. My art tells stories of women who claimed their power. Women from Arab history or Arab American communities are my subjects. Propelled by gender discrimination and women's oppression during my childhood and early youth, I strive for social justice. Inspired by female role models, I make central figures and drape Islamic designs around them.
My cultural heritage also manifests in my art as vibrant colors, such as hot pink, regal gold, playful yellows, reds, and blues. Henna paste, a symbol of tradition and adornment, finds its place in my work, bridging the gap between history and modernity.
Using rolls of screen-printed canvas, I make installations reminiscent of Bedouin tents and Islamic architecture with arches, pillars, and enclosed spaces. My work pays tribute to the heroism and strength of historical and contemporary Muslim women. Using the constructs of faith and culture, my art initiates a dialogue of reform and a call for change. It seeks to amplify the voices of those silenced and overlooked.
My cultural heritage also manifests in my art as vibrant colors, such as hot pink, regal gold, playful yellows, reds, and blues. Henna paste, a symbol of tradition and adornment, finds its place in my work, bridging the gap between history and modernity.
Using rolls of screen-printed canvas, I make installations reminiscent of Bedouin tents and Islamic architecture with arches, pillars, and enclosed spaces. My work pays tribute to the heroism and strength of historical and contemporary Muslim women. Using the constructs of faith and culture, my art initiates a dialogue of reform and a call for change. It seeks to amplify the voices of those silenced and overlooked.