HEND AL-MANSOUR

ARTIST STATEMENT

While coming of age in Saudi Arabia, I loved painting figures, despite the cultural stigma against the depiction of human figures in Islamic art. I was inspired by both Euro-American artists from the Renaissance to the modern period, as well as Islamic artists. However, my fascination for Islamic art and design only grew stronger after I left the Middle East. From a distance, I was able to appreciate its richness and vibrance. I am in awe of Islamic artists’ talent and ability to create variable patterns using a single grid.

Because I incorporate a prohibited practice: the human figure, into a traditional artistic ideal: Islamic design, my work is a form of resistance against the oppressive patriarchy in Arabia and beyond. My use of vivid colors such as hot pink, regal gold, alongside playful yellows, reds, and blues, reflects the impact of my cultural heritage on my aesthetics. This impact also manifests in my use of henna paste both in painting and screen-printing. My installations pay homage to Bedouin tents and Islamic architecture, bringing stories and myths to life through screen-printed fabrics turned into murals and enclosed spaces. By embracing the playfulness and grace of Islamic aesthetics, I aim to challenge the gravity of gender discrimination within Islamic society.

Stylized and nestled within Arabic calligraphy and geometric and floral patterns, my art highlights the heroism and strength of historical and contemporary Muslim women. Many of my artworks are grounded in the stories told by Arab American women that I have interviewed. I aim to make visible the harsh realities other women, and I experience in Saudi Arabia and other patriarch systems.

Growing up in the birthplace of Islam has profoundly influenced my identity and cultural sensibilities, even though I don't strictly follow its teachings and customs anymore. I've seen how women can be marginalized in the name of religion, which is why I use my artistic practice to assert my rights and other women's rights, amplify historical women’s stories and call for reform using the constructs of faith and culture.