Aiysha Manai
Raised in Saudi Arabia, Aiysha plays with the abstraction of ideas and stories through simplified shapes and dimensional depths. She takes great inspiration from Islamic art, which focuses on nature and geometric forms rather than the human figure. These parameters create an interesting challenge of evoking emotion from the viewer without including a relatable human form. What is left is an abstract idea in which the viewer can project their views and feelings onto the frame or canvas through colorful simplified forms. Aiysha is heavily influenced by her degree in graphic design that emphasizes the importance of the viewer and their first impression of a work. Along with the elements taught in the program, she focuses on attention to detail and perfects her work through her own process. For Aiysha the meditative process of perfecting a work is just as satisfying as the finished product. The main elements she focuses on in her process is colour, craft, and form.