2020

Just wanted to share this piece of work I completed. Title: 2020 (Hibiscus stained hemp paper, natural pigments, watercolour, shell gold). This piece is inspired by the difficulties faced this year. Daily struggles were exacerbated by the struggles that came along with the worldwide pandemic of COVID-19. So much has changed - life has changed. Some for the better and some for the worse. At one point life did just stand still...numb, complete silence, unable to move in any direction, as though forever suspended in the air...no idea how one was going to land. There was an overwhelming amount of chaos - literally. And even of thoughts and emotions. Familiar grounds provided no security or comfort. Many people have stated that their mental health has suffered further. Everyone it appears has been touched by this, everyone has struggled. The idea for this developed in June 2020 during the first lockdown (in the UK)...only during the 2nd lockdown did I get a clearer vision of what I wanted to express. I hope that others can also relate. This painting was made using Persian/Indian miniature traditions & techniques to illustrate a very current issue. Over the last year or so, I’ve had the opportunity to observe and learn from a great bunch of artists who specialise in Indian/Persian miniature style paintings - @anitachowdry @hana.shahnavaz @vaishaliprazmari @yasmin_hayat Even though I must admit I did not complete any work from any courses, I have used what I have learnt from them to create this piece of work. Seeing the artists love for their chosen art and how they teach has only further ignited a desire to learn and practice more. I love the discipline, the ritual each piece requires (from start to finish). I love how it slows me down. Raadiyah @