Burnt Fabric:

​

 This work is a personal response to the incomprehensible and tragic humanitarian crisis taking place in the Middle east. I investigate the cultural and human element of war and displacement, using the unique designs and patterns found in the art and architecture of the region.  I examine the destruction of Syria’s culture and civilization due to civil war, extremism and global politics. My inspiration for the series is based on my travels in the Middle east as a western woman as well as my ongoing work with a Syrian family relocated to Victoria, Canada. The wood surfaces of my paintings withstand destructive practices such as hacking, sanding, chemicals and burning. The panels are floated off the wall to create a feeling of surreal impermanency. These paintings are a meditation on resilience in the face of violence, but also an expression of sadness at the loss of so much that is sacred and beautiful. As homes, holy mosques and shrines burn, so does the very fabric of this culturally rich country.