Janet Rady Fine Art is pleased to present ‘Are we there yet?’, an online exhibition showcasing a selection of twenty unseen works from the late female Iraqi artist, Nadira Azzouz (1927 – 2020). ‘Are we there yet?’ ignites a dialogue that considers travel, journey, space and time from both a human and natural perspective. ‘Are we there yet?’ is available to view online from 9th August to 5th September 2023.
The title ‘Are we there yet?’ indicates both expectation and anticipation – it can be seen as both a literal and rhetorical question, where the there can have a definitive, ambiguous or perhaps, no real answer. It does however, put in the mind of the viewer what or where the there is.
Azzouz’s works range from more realistic figural renderings to beautifully abstract lines and forms that hint at the presence of human forms while simultaneously weaving complex layered patterns and sinuous shapes. When we look at Azzouz’ paintings we feel the warmth and vibrancy of her subject matter. Azzouz’s mastery of colour and tone – whereby once applying rich jewel-like colours against dull earthy tones lends a feeling of magnificence to her work. The paintings utilise bold colours and transformations of abstract forms that project a sense of wonder and joy.
Solo, duo and groups of figures traverse across the landscape of the canvas, and at a once one gets a sense of the themes and subject matter Azzouz interrogates in her practice: arrival, departure, movement and wonder without explicit citation. When we look at Azzouz’s paintings we consider the possibilities of travel – where, when and how will we get there? What is the destination and why are we going?
