May 2012 30

MAUREEN BACHAUS

Posted In artists

MAUREEN BACHAUS

Lives and works in Netherlands

Biography

Maureen Bachaus graduated at the College of Fine Arts Maastricht, Netherlands. She also completed the Conceptual Post-graduate course ‘Hallo’, Amsterdam. Bachaus lives and works in Maastricht, Netherlands, where she works in a studio located in a former school.

She is represented in the Netherlands since 2006 by Gallery Wansink, in Switzerland since 2011 by Gallery Daniel Tanner, and in Belgium since 2012 by Gallery S&H De Buck.

Artist Statement

Maureen Bachaus’ work consists primarily of assemblages, with the basis formed by photography. These assemblies are actually portraits of people, in which their feelings and thoughts have been a focal point.

A (often enlarged) photoprint acts as a background, with assembled elements which suggest a portion of the underlying story. These elements are sometimes objects with traces of human use or lines of texts that are in fact fragments of the peoples thoughts that reveal the essence of the mind at the time that the portrait was made. A frequently used material is rope, sometimes pierced rawly through the image. This rope, sometimes in a knot, sometimes with hanging parts, symbolizes the limitation or even captivity but also the freedom experienced by certain thoughts and feelings.

Another essential aspect of Maureen Bachaus’ work is the human psyche, the freedom of expression, the human identity.

Intense conversations with people become increasingly important as an input for her work, and have led to the ‘Identification project’ on which Bachaus currently works. Core questions of the ‘Identification project’ are: who are you, and how did you become the person that you are? Is your identity your own free choice or is this determined by your genes, your country, your religion, your family, or your government?

The identification project consists of photo-assemblages and an art-video project.

www.maureenbachaus.com

May 2012 30

AZADEH BAHROOZI

Posted In artists

AZADEH BAHROOZI

Lives and works in England

Biography

An Iranian born artist, Azadeh trained as an architect and worked in environmental and urban planning.

In her artistic career she has a particular interest in sculpture and related disciplines of life drawing and painting. Her main focus is on political and social art that is reflective of her principles in life and her upbringing in a human rights environment.

Azadeh utilizes her ability in art to reflect her beliefs and personal experiences and to explore her feelings about the social and political upheaval in the world.

In her work she assertively challenges injustices in society, expressing her hope and that of many others, for positive change.

Her art work makes references to her Middle Eastern heritage, including its architecture and the use of calligraphy, incorporating traditional colours and design into contemporary comment on human rights.

Artist statement

Coming of Age

This piece challenges a number of interconnecting issues that oppress women from childhood to adulthood.

It provokes discussion on traditions as well as issues relevant to contemporary Britain.

The hijab, used as a symbol of the ongoing oppression of women is highlighted by the covering of a young girl’s body, the loss of her individual identity, and subsequent subordinate position in life from an early age.

The reference to education raises issues currently impacting in European societies about the tolerance of the hijab in mainstream schools and the separate education of children in religious based schools. It also points to the reality within traditional societies where education of girls is not a right and is still much contested.

The artwork questions the liberal assumption of cultural tolerance instead of placing the issue as an infringement of a child’s, and a woman’s, human rights.

Overall it is a statement against the symbolic subordination of the status of young girls and the role of women in society and a call for a more just and secular society.