Artist Statement

In Angles of Tradition, my work aims at depicting a traditional theme in a modern manner, as an approach to represent the discrepancies we encounter living in a city like Cairo. Whether it was a licorice seller, a basket weaver or oriental instruments, much of my inspiration came from everyday sights in my home city.

In the midst of the rhythmic qualities of the noise and congestion we experience daily, it is easy to miss the honest and hard-working craftsmen who fill our city with beauty and color. Whether I depict them or their products, this collection is my reverence to them.

My work seeks to balance order and chaos. I paint the same way I view the world; deconstructed. During the time I spend with any given painting, I attempt to reconstruct it in a way that makes sense to me. Geometric forms and sharp lines illustrate that control I have on the work, giving me a sense of stability and composure. However, during its creation, these forms and lines take a life of their own creating challenges that require the work to pause. I leave this control behind and must think of new ways to respond to the provocation the canvas puts across.

Ultimately, this collection is my own way of meditating and contemplating the environment that surrounds me.