Lot 116: Sandstorm

Sherin Guirguis (Egyptian, b. 1974) Sandstorm ink, watercolour and silver paint mounted on board, in two parts each: 49 x 37in. (124.5 x 94cm.); overall: 49 x 74in. (124.5 x 188cm.) Executed in 2011

124.5 x 94cm.

Gallery Wendi Norris, San Francisco. Acquired from the above by the present owner.

Egyptian born artist Sherin Guirguis fuses her admiration for Arabic visual culture, calligraphy and ornamentation with that of Minimalism and Abstract Expressionism. Using a variety of materials including inks and watercolour that she carefully and structurally manipulates on layered hand-cut papers, she creates intriguing compositions that juxtapose and blend colour and repetitive geometric patterns. Her works sometimes reminisce the Islamic architecture and in particular the Mashrabiyas that ornate her homeland's urban landscapes; the play between form and colour may seem arbitrary, but when looking closely at her works, one feels in the contrary balance and definition. Often hinting to events that have affected the Egyptian society and herself as part of the diaspora, Guirguis' works have an impact on the viewer that is aesthetically immersive and equally engaging from a social and political view. Sandstorm is one of her finest and most intricate works. Guirguis now works and lives in Los Angeles and her works have been featured in several international exhibitions, catching the eye of many collectors and art critics. 'My work blends a western minimalist language with eastern ornamentation, although it tends to be less of a blend and more of a clash. This synthesis of seemingly contradictory elements is what I'm most interested in.' (The artist quoted in an interview with Yasmine Mohseni, in the Huffington Post, 3 September 2012).