Nada Elkalaawy’s art is a poignant exploration of memory, identity, and the blurred lines between reality and fiction. Rooted in personal history and loss, her work delves into the complexities of human experience, inviting us to question our own perceptions. Through a unique blend of painting, animation, and tapestry, Elkalaawy constructs intricate narratives that weave together fragments of the past and present. Her process is as introspective as the works themselves, involving the careful curation of images and objects that serve as building blocks for her compositions.
By incorporating cherubic figures, or Putti, into her recent works, Elkalaawy introduces an ethereal and haunting element. These porcelain vessels become metaphors for the weight of the past, carrying within them echoes of memories and emotions. The artist invites contemplation on how we contain and convey meaning, suggesting that our understanding of the world is shaped by subjective interpretations and personal histories.
My process begins by collecting images and objects, delving into an archive of materials belonging to my family and sourcing images from the internet. I use this found material to develop sketches and drawings, which form the basis of paintings. I work from recollections of places, people, and objects, then construct imagery that is partly remembered partly imagined, making the work an amalgamation of ideas, memory-aids, and fantasies.
More info: Website, Instagram (h/t: Booooooom).
