MISHKAAH AMIEN

Artist Statement

With paper being the holder of history and memories, we see the significant role that paper plays in conveying the message across to the viewer. This can too be seen in religion being conveyed through holy books.

Theme and subject matter display Islam through patterning, accentuating the discipline that it teaches through its structure.  I make use of pattern and repetition as a metaphor for displaying compulsory daily prayers, rituals and duties.

With the process being time consuming, I hope to have the viewer recognize the patience, dedication it took in creating these pieces; similarly to the way I wish to display Islam, as calming and meditative.

My techniques include paper cutting, and quilling. Cutting usually involves cutting into the surface of the artwork itself or cutting the required shapes and gluing them onto the surface. Quilling involves cutting thin strips of paper and applying different treatments to them such as bending, twisting and curling.

With my works being 3dimentional, it offers the viewer multiple angles and different ways in which to view and perceive my work. Depending on the lighting and placement of the artwork, this too could drastically change the emotion, message and experience of the same piece.

Biography

Born 1991, Cape Town, South Africa.

Graduated in Fine Art 2012, Ruth Prowse School of art.

Themes and concepts

• Portraying the beauty of Islam based on Islamic patterning

• Memory

• Typography

Passion

To exploit the possibilities of paper and evoke peacefulness within the viewer.

Teaching

2011-2012, Art assistant, Zonnebloem Children’s art centre, Zonnebloem, Cape Town.

2015, Assistant artist to Masters of Fine Art student (MFA) - UCT Michaelis, Cape Town, South Africa.

Group Exhibitions

2012, Graduate Exhibition, Ruth Prowse School of art, Woodstock, Cape Town, South Africa.

2013, Vuleka Art competition, Art B Gallery, Bellville, South Africa.

2014, Artscape Youth Gala Concert, Artscape theatre foyer, Cape Town, South Africa.

2014, Artscape youth outreach programme, Artscape Opera theatre foyer, Cape Town, South Africa.

2014, Alumni exhibition, Ruth Prowse School of art, Woodstock, Cape Town, South Africa.

2014, Tiny Treasures, Art B Gallery, Bellville, South Africa.

2014, Vuleka art competition, Art B Gallery, Bellville, South Africa.

2015, Long Street art Lovers Gallery Annual Art competition, Pretoria, South Africa.

2015, Tiny Treasures II, Art B Gallery, Bellville, South Africa.

2015, Vuleka Art Competiton, Art B Gallery, Bellville, South Africa.

2015, Thami Mnyele Annual Art Competition, Kempton Park , South Africa.

2016, 'That Art Fair', Woodstock, Cape Town, South Africa.

Finalist and awards

2013, Vuleka Art Competition Finalist and merit award.

2014, Vuleka Art Competition Finalist and 3rd Prize.

2015, Long Street Art lovers Gallery Art Competition Finalist.

2015, Vuleka Art Competition Finalist.

2015,Thami Mnyele Art Competition Finalist and Art on Paper award winner.

Publications

2015, Islamic Paper Artist Mishkaah Amien, Art People Gallery, 11/08/2015

2015, Mishkaah Amien, Paper Artist Collective, 10/08/2015

2015, Mishkaah Amien, Paper Artist Collective, 12/08/2015

2015, Mishkaah Amien, Paper Artist Collective, 14/08/2015

Community Work

2014, Mural, Tygerburg Hospital, Children's ward, Cape Town, South Africa.

2014- 2015, Professional Muslim Association, Cape Town, South Africa.

Other Features

2015, Official member of Paper artist Collective.

2015, Featured on Instagram’s ‘the_art_competition’.

2015, Featured on Instagram’s ‘the_art_competition’.

2015, Official member of Art People Gallery.

2016, Featured on Instagram’s ‘the_art_competition’.

2016, 'Art Africa' Magazine, March Issue.