2020 Senior Art Show

Aya Alagha

“I came to the United States from Syria as an international student in 2017. Living in two completely different environments gave me the advantage of having a more open-minded understanding of beauty as a concept, that I wanted to communicate through making art.”

Artwork #1

Inktense pencils on white paper [30 x 46 cm[

“In many cultures, peafowls are a symbol of beauty, love, compassion, watchfulness, and kindheartedness. I find many similarities between women and the symbolic characteristics of peafowls. Mandala is also a symbol of the universe in Buddhist and Hindu cultures. I added this component to draw attention to the important role women play in our lives.”

Artwork #2

Acrylic on canvas [60 x 46 cm]

“I have been personally impacted by the Syrian Civil war. The conflict hascontinued, despite all the peace initiatives. Recently, my family had to fleethe country and become refugees. I find it very important to hold onto hopein such hard times. This artwork is dedicated to Syrian refugees. The redscarf, black cloak, and green eyes represent the Syrian flag. The white doveand the olive branches are symbols of peace.”

Artwork #9

Colored pencils on white paper [60 x 46 cm]

“This piece communicates the idea of solidarity. It is very important for all women to come together and support one another in such a time when there is enormous pressure put on women all over the world. The female figures in this picture are interconnected, fading into one another. They stand behind each other because 'they got each others’ back.’ The different colors represent the diverse ideologies and personalities the women possess, and their varying facial structures symbolize intersectionalism/intersectional feminism.”