Opening Reception for Masters Thesis Exhibition
6 – 8 p.m
120 Fine Arts Building, Houston
Brown Bag Gallery Tours
12 p.m. Wednesday, March 31
Sura Khudairi
Thesis
As women artists of Muslim descent, I am always trying to discover who I am, to look at myself and my heritage and to get beyond stereotypes. In my work I explore my identity as refracted through my backgrounds in the wake of 9/11. I am trying to create a new kind of Islamic art that is modern, Westernized and female-centric.
I seek to humanize the individuals beneath the veil. Born in the East (Iraq) and raised in the West, my approach is deeply earnest. Currently with the Iraq crisis, my world split in two, making me feel like the child of a messy, public divorce.
I have always struggled with the images of humorless, somber Arab women in full-on black abayah. For me these images do not reflect the real Muslim women any more than the images of the harem girls of the 19th century. Through my work I create an awareness of the Muslim community specifically the Muslim woman and explore the misrepresentation. My work helps to create dialogue between people so they can view each other’s point of views on different topics.
My is interested in the relationship between words and actions driven by fear, anger and racism. Fear drives our worst behaviors, but it is something that we ironically all share. These emotions make one loose site and even worse loose control. I am driven by contemporary society, politics, and cultural issues that continue to divide us.