Maha Ahmed
A beast with its stomach stretched full 1/10, 2017
Gouache on paper
15.2 x 10.2 cm
Maha Ahmed makes work informed by her knowledge of various traditional forms of image making. Here she combines elements from Persian miniature painting and classical Japanese ‘Yamato-e’ painting, in a series of mythical scenes that conjure up both isolation and wonderment.
Yamato-e simply translates as ‘Japanese painting’ and refers to a style that first flourished between 794 and 1185 (the Heian period). It came about to distinguish paintings with a Japanese subject matter from those imported from China. The paintings are narrative based, with or without accompanying text and often feature large clouds or mist banks that fill all negative space.
Miniature painting on paper became a significant genre in Persian art from the 13th century onwards. Animals, mostly shown sideways, have always been a common feature. Ahmed’s mythical creatures are also all depicted in profile. They find themselves in vast cloudy landscapes, almost disappearing into their surroundings as if they want to become a part of it. Though perhaps, as the title of the works might suggest, they have actually consumed their environment and are surveying this hybrid world with happy bellies.