Hannah


 * __Personal Statement__**

My art work is an exploration of identity. Through my pieces, I’ve aimed to express the importance of having a sense of self in the face of cultural, gender and personal issues. My work has been largely influenced by personal reflections on Cairo’s culture and its contrast to that of my past homes- Germany and the United States. My piece “Dann und Jetzt” was inspired from exposure to the evident guilt and responsibility that the younger German generation feels for the Holocaust- a reflection of national identity. I incorporated the techniques and concepts of established artists into my work such as that of Romare Bearden when approaching “Messy Masculinity”. Also, I was influenced by Audrey Flack and Jim Dine’s interpretation of self portraits, as suggested by my pieces “Life’s Mosaic” and “Pretty Little Things”. Originally, I lacked confidence in my work because I was concerned that my skills were not at an HL standard. Therefore, I was reluctant to experiment with media or styles. I was particularly influenced by Indian painter Mohan Singh whom I had met in the summer of 2008. His works suggested to me that I need not be a ‘fine’ artist to create admirable art. My piece “Anonymity in NYC” was my first piece whereby I abandoned all my inhibitions and discovered my individual style. Therefore, I see this work as my breakthrough piece. While adapting this style, I was influenced by John Marin and his representations of urban dwellings. I was not always familiar with the media I chose to work with, but this opened doors for me to experiment with collage, acrylic, watercolor, pastel, photography, mixed media etc. I struggled to perfect my use of these media and by the second year I felt comfortable working in these areas. I quickly realized which media I favored and worked to incorporate them into my developing technique.