Metamorphosis, First Solo Show by Amy Hussein

Metamorphosis, First Solo Show by Amy Hussein
Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic 07/25/2011

As a virtuoso of drawing and experimentation in juxtaposing a variety of techniques, one can define Amy Hussein’s work for this exhibition as just that. Amy will show a total of ten drawings that speak to the domination of this technique and the grace of the emotions accompanying it. To this, add ten more paintings on wood and this is her show.

“the feminine face, when assumed by an artist of the same gender always has an introspective nuance that is used in a different register from that of a man…” 

Laura Gil, art critic who wrote the catalogue for the show, said “the feminine face, when assumed by an artist of the same gender always has an introspective nuance that is used in a different register from that of a man. A woman is a much better object for herself but this facility of frequently splitting the personality does not tend to accentuate the individual but rather the archetype which, in any case, always appears culturally conditioned and has a validity that rarely transcends history.” 

A characteristic feature of the paintings and drawings are the exuberant brush strokes on the canvas or paper that are “normally floating like Aphrodite rising from the ocean’s foam as in the Uffizi version of the Botticelli painting. But it also includes the wiry hair and a head in profile without any hair. The golden backgrounds occasionally idolize the feminine image and the expressive character of the entire bodily element in the images of women,” said Ms. Gil. 

Amy Hussein considers herself to be self-taught although she recognizes that the influence and teaching of painter, Lizette Mejía, propelled her work in the direction of refining technique and form. The process of creating for the novel artist is a permanent task and is manifested in a process of continual searching and learning.

The exhibition will be open to the public until August in Musa, located in Piantini.