|
|
Best First Solo Exhibitor
Best First Solo Exhibitor
|
Rim Al Bahrani
(Co-Winner)
Rim Al Bahrani(Co-Winner)
|
|
|
|
Ziggurat from My Dreams. Aluminum. 1.85x53x60 |
|
|
Emerging from the concept of home as an identity, the silver aluminum sculpture stands at a height of approximately two meters. The Iraqi artist reminisces about her childhood penchant for painting houses, a memory that now finds expression in her artwork. The sculpture’s free form and organic shape deliberately avoids mirroring any recognizable architectural archetype. It presents a captivating assembly of houses stacked upon one another, ascending in a whimsical arrangement.
This piece is part of the ‘Elusive Dreams of Belonging’ series. It serves as a visual embodiment of the intricate dance between place and identity, underscoring how these two elements intertwine to mold one’s sense of self. The arrangement of houses fashioned from the artist’s imaginative realm invited contemplation on the assertion that home is identity. The sculpture challenges this notion by exploring the palpable aspects within the context of displaced identities. Further, the artwork delves into the intricate and fluid process of identity formation for those whose notions of self and place remain in a never-ending evolution.
The artist’s creative journey commenced with painting on a two-dimensional canvas. The flat expanse of the canvas provides her with the artistic liberty to paint endlessly, a reflection of her belief that houses and paintings are boundless. In this creative process, silk screen techniques and ceramics played an integral role. The evolution of her concepts propelled her toward the realm of three-dimensional structures. Al Bahrani’s innovative approach involves shaping and sculpting houses and windows from a raw block of clay, a process that mirrors the very act of constructing one’s identity. The addition of red wax, combined with bronze or aluminum, results in sculptures that, much like the self, are in a state of perpetual transformation.
Al Bahrani's own life narrative aligns with her artistic exploration. She shares that a life of continuous wandering has shaped her artistic vision. Although experiences led her to be distant from her homeland, she found a rekindling connection through an unexpected source – the ancient Mesopotamian dream interpretation. The sculpture is a bridge connecting the corporeal and the psychological aspects of displaced identities. It reflects the idea that the subconscious mind can subtly influence one’s perception of both reality and self. Just like her evolving sculptures, the artist defies any conventional static definition of one’s identity by believing that the self is an ongoing masterpiece shaped by a myriad of influences.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
© 2023 by InfoPro sal. All Rights Reserved
|
|
|
|