IASH is thrilled to share that Shatha Altowai, IASH/IIE-Artist Protection Fund Fellow, has been awarded the John Byrne Award. The judges found Shatha’s paintings to be “incredibly powerful and moving.” They praised “the stark composition and restraint of Shatha’s paintings, and her honest and heartfelt entry statement.” Shatha was selected unanimously by the four-judge panel. Read more about Shatha’s award here.
Much of Shatha’s work reflects aspects of life in her society, and the suffering caused by the ongoing civil war in Yemen. Through her figurative, cubist, and abstract paintings, Shatha seeks to shed light on issues such as Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs), women, coexistence, and families in Yemen. The paintings awarded the John Byrne Award feature in Shatha’s upcoming exhibition ‘The White Canvas', to be held at IASH between 26th and 30th July. In this series, and in the paintings submitted to the John Byrne Award, Shatha addresses the issues that she has experienced and observed throughout her life in Yemen, specifically focussing on the last seven years since the eruption of the current war. She aims to highlight the lifestyles of Yemeni families living through the war, their solidarity, and how they seek to overcome the lack of basic necessities, such as food, water, electricity, fuel, and security. Her work conveys the contradictory emotions of strength and fear that Yemeni families grapple with as part of their everyday experience.
Keep up with Shatha on the following social media platforms:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ShathaAltowaiArt
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shatha.altowai/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/AltowaiShatha