My paper cutout art is my way of exploring emotion, personal history, and perception. I see it not just as a decorative craft, but as a medium for storytelling and a vehicle for complex ideas. To better frame my process, I often categorize my work into distinct but interconnected series: “Layered Pattern Cutouts,” “Geometric & Illusions,” “Story Cutouts”. Each category allows me to investigate a different facet of how we see and interpret the world. My “Illusion Cutouts” are designed to play with your perception, inviting you to question what you see and consider how meaning can shift with a simple change in perspective. In my “Story Cutouts” and “Illusion Cutouts,” I push the boundaries of narrative. The cutouts aren’t just illustrations; they are integral to the story itself.
My journey into wood art is a natural evolution of the explorations I began with my paper cutouts. It represents a shift in materiality but a continuation of my core artistic inquiry. In this medium, I continue to transform the intricate Islamic designs that are central to my practice, translating them from delicate paper into the more permanent and substantial form of wood.
The layering techniques I developed with paper find a new dimension here. Where paper layers suggest a fragile history, layered wood creates a deeper sense of structure and physical depth, with each plane contributing to a more complex, sculptural whole. The inherent warmth and organic texture of the wood bring a different energy to the designs, creating an interplay between the geometric precision of the patterns and the unique grain of the material.