Zahra Marwan Presents Watercolor Paintings Show at Hecho a Mano: 'A Rose is a Rose is a Rose'

Santa Fe, NM / ACCESSWIRE / June 27, 2024 / Zahra Marwan's solo show at Hecho a Mano features watercolor paintings centering on roses and Arab poetry. The Albuquerque-based artist's works stem from evocative lines of text, reflecting her literary background. Her family’s journey from Kuwait to Albuquerque, and their struggles with discrimination, often influence her art.

Marwan's new paintings draw inspiration from the seven Mu'allaqat and the medieval epic, The Romance of the Rose. She compares the paintings' mood to Saadi Shirazi's Gulistan, showcasing her deep connection to Arabic poetry and Andalusian influences.

The show’s title is inspired by Gertrude Stein's 1913 poem, "Sacred Emily." Marwan read the poem in Paris last October and found its fragmented and repetitive nature resonant. Her work has garnered significant recognition, including inclusion in the New York Times Ten Best Illustrated Children's Books of 2022 and the United Nations Human Rights Commission Art Award.

A Rose is a Rose is a Rose opens on July 5 and runs through July 29.