Noor Al-Haideri

“What is your favorite Artwork"?”

Curatorial Rationale

I’ve always been fascinated by the beauty of humans, the complex relationships and emotions that we have as humans. I wanted to show different displays of emotions through a variety of mediums. In The Nature of Happiness, I chose to connect peace and happiness to the stillness and calmness of a tree. In Insecurity, however, I focused on the vulnerability of humans and the fragility of feeling trapped in one’s own skin. Human emotions can range from extreme emotions to more subtle, and I focused on representing these aspects in my own works.

Color is a major symbol I used in my works. For vulnerable, intense, quiet emotions, I chose to work with darker colors or graphite. For extreme, unsettling emotions, I used bright colors. I took inspiration from the works of Frida Kahlo, Van Gogh, Gustav Klimt and more. Their color usage and emotive expression has profoundly shaped my artistic sensibilities. Additionally, I explore the works of contemporary artists whose innovative approaches to color and emotion continue to inform and enrich my creative process. 

I displayed the biggest piece, happiness and peace, in the middle because happiness is a big part of humans and it resonates with many people. Below the The Nature of Happiness I placed A Mother’s love, recognizing the profound connection between love and the sense of peace and joy often associated with happiness. Surrounding the central pieces, I strategically positioned artworks evoking emotions such as nostalgia, insecurity, fear, suspicion, and confusion. These emotions, while not always pleasant, are integral components of the human condition, contributing to the depth and complexity of our collective experience. Humans aren’t happy all the time, having sad, mad emotions is a part of human beauty. 

Noor’s Art Work

  • The Nature of Peace

    Acrylic paint mixed with baking soda and sand

    60.96 cm x 91.44 cm

    The Nature of Peace is inspired by The Kiss by Gustav Klimt and Roots by Frida Kahlo. The subject of the work is a human resembling a fig tree. The main point of the painting is to show peace and happiness and incorporate nature elements. I chose to paint figs because they often seen as a symbol of holiness and goodwill.

  • A mother’s love

    Crayola Air Dry Clay, cloth, acrylic paint

    9 cm x 13 cm x 6 cm

    A Mother's love is a sculpture that represents how a mother is willing to sacrifice and love her child despite being poor. I purposely chose to leave the figure white to represent purity and innocence and add to its minimalistic aesthetic.

  • Gentle Grasp of Nostalgia

    Graphite and charcoal on stained wood, graphite on drawing paper stained with coffee

    30.4 cm x 22.8 cm

    A Gentle Grasp on Nostalgia is an artwork featuring a person looking at a very old portrait, almost hesitating to hold. The scene prompts contemplation on the dual nature of emotions. On one hand, it may be interpreted as an expression of sorrow, where the subject refrains from thinking too deeply into the past. Alternatively, it invites a bittersweet exploration of nostalgia, acknowledging the personal journey and growth experienced over time. This work is inspired by my mother.

  • Suspicions Among Us

    Embroidery, thread, fabric glue, acrylic paint on Fabric

    35.5 cm diameter

    Suspicions Among Us draws inspiration from Ruth Miller's Duafe, presenting a captivating portrayal of interpersonal mistrust. Against a dark background, the artwork captures a tense moment involving three individuals locked in suspicion. The two men in the background cast doubtful glances at each other, revealing an underlying distrust. Meanwhile, the woman in the foreground challenges the viewer with skepticism, creating a dynamic on the fragility of trust within human relationships.

  • Insecurity

    Graphite and wax pencil

    27 cm by 35.5 cm

    Insecurity is inspired by David Quirk's unique works that feature human anatomy under the skin. I chose to show insecurity in my work and the entrapment in one's own skin, so I included the inside of her skin to show how she can't escape and change the way she feels about herself. The subject is also cramped in the paper to add more sense of insecurity and entrapment.

  • Lost in the spirals of fear

    Mixed Media, Watercolors, Colored pencils, Threads

    20 cm diameter

    Lost in the Spirals of Fear is inspired by The Scream by Edvard Munch. The blue and orange threads represent chaos and the feeling of being swallowed by anxiety and fear. The subject is almost covered with the thread to add more attention to his facial expressions and emphasize the emotion of being trapped by fear.