Description
Artist Statement: Power and control are core themes that I aim to address in my work. These themes can be found in all elements of life on this planet, amongst humans, animals, and even in the botanical world. Power struggles, particularly between genders, and in politics, race and slavery inspire me to address other related issues. My work is informed by Michel Foucault’s ideas on power and Edward Said’s work on Orientalism that I studied during my MA in University College Cork.
Using the medium of traditional and neo-Indo-Persian miniature painting and the language of symbolism, my work expresses my hybrid cultural experiences. Being female, Asian, and Muslim, as well as a migrant, mother and artist, these personal strands of identity provide me with the opportunity to connect with global issues in general.
Violence against women and children, particularly in various cultural contexts, are themes that I continuously address in my work. The violence against women and children in Mother and Baby homes in Ireland resonates with me alongside the theme of international human rights. Working as an artist activist, my paintings are silent protests or performances against this violence