Amanda Graham
to create a piece of art, depending on the
type of art I am creating. I paint or draw
directly on canvas, paper and sometimes,
fabric that I have created. The procedure
comprises of a series of layering
techniques using acrylic paint until the
particular piece is finished.
ART Habens
opposite position of the background
artwork.
The fluidity to the communication with the
piece means that the viewer has access to
the multiplicity of meanings of the piece. I
wanted different viewers of my work to
arrive at different understandings of the
artwork.
I usually have a rough idea of what I want
to create beforehand. When I usually go
into a zone and then the painting or design
takes me where it wants me to go.
Yes defintely the common denominator is
balance.
I am fascinated with repetitive pattern and
geometric shapes, I allow a week prior to
beginining the piece to research the
presentation and structure of the work. I
usually draw influence from architecture – I
love details on mosques and churches in
particular geometric patterns, I tend to
base the textile patterns on previous
existing methods.
I constantly seek balance in my life and
due to the lack of it I tend to gravitate
towards creating it within my pieces.
Einstein was once quoted saying ‘Life is
like riding a bicycle. To keep balance you
must keep moving’. I believe I continue to
create art work because it is my keeps me
balanced.
What a person lacks, often is what we
obsess about. What a person represses
usually shows up in real terms whether it
be either positive, negative, creative or
destructive either way it will come out.
I am very grateful that I have an outlet
where I can demonstrate my ideas. Whilst
doing so, I am stretching my hands out to
others in similar situation.
The idea behind ‘In the beginning’ is based
upon a previous piece of work that I had
created called Adam and Eve, which
involved a similar concept. ‘In the
beginning’ looks at the possibility of Adam
and Eve being of African descents and
living in an imaginary post-apocalyptic
Garden of Eden surrounded by a mix of old
and new features. The whole piece is
based on the traditional view of balance
(Male/Female). The trainers are also male
and female but they are placed in the
I categorise people into two sets of
personalities. There are people who are
afraid and in their fear they comply with
most, if not all of social norms as a form of
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