Desert Rose: Breaking Boundaries with Heba Amin
by Mehmet DEDE
 There are not many artists these days that provide a window into the vanishing cultures of the ancient Bedouin tribes. And even few who have had the opportunity to live among them in the desert and work with Bedouin artists. Meet Heba Amin, an up and coming artist who beautifully portrays the daily lives of these people while conveying a positive image of the Arab people.
Heba Amin was born and raised in Cairo, Egypt. She attended the Cairo American College where she was given an American education, at the expanse of alienating her from the society she grew up in. She moved to the US in 1998 to attend the Macalester College to major in Studio Art. She exhibited in group shows in Minneapolis, Washington DC and most recently in New York.
Heba is an artist who is not afraid of confronting the media. In her artist statement she says "The Western world puts a negative connotation on cultural differences. As an artist, I see it as my role to point out the beauty in those differences." Thanks to a fascinating combination of explosive colors, even the most irrelevant person connects with her paintings. "In my paintings, color is used as a tactic to attract viewers and instigate positive impressions," explains Heba. A spiritual person, Heba has also a special interest in the Whirling Dervishes of the Mevlevi brotherhood. "My attraction to the Whirling Dervishes comes from their meditative energy," she adds noting that the energy that emanates from spinning embodies a rich tradition of her Arabic/Islamic roots. Here is an excerpt from our interview:
You mention that the media in the US puts a negative spin on the cultural differences of people. How does your art go about turning this negative experience into a positive one?
The Arab world is very unfamiliar and often misunderstood by the West. Information reaching Americans about the Middle East is predominantly through the media. With the current events, Arabs in the news are portrayed in a negative manner and the cultural differences presented are turning into harmful stereotypes. My hope is that my art work will aesthetically appeal to people and cause them to want to learn more about my culture. I want to depict things that don't make the news.
What do Bedouins represent in your eyes?
I have always had great interest in the Bedouin people and their customs. They live a simplistic life, not hindered by material possessions. They are a deeply spiritual people, community and family oriented, and, from my experience, extremely hospitable. I found to be most striking their deep connection with their surroundings. The desert terrain offered an extremely spiritual and calm environment. It made certain aspects in my life seem irrelevant.
How does that reflect onto your canvas?
My work depicts Bedouin women, with their decorative and delicate attire, juxtaposed with modern/industrial/rugged/man-made/unattractive objects of a "contemporary" Egyptian society. My work addresses issues beyond my interest in Bedouins however. It also touches upon issues of women in Egyptian society, issues of modernization, and issues of western influence.
Speaking of western influence, tell us about the environment you grew up in, especially vis-a-vis the American high school you attended in Cairo.
I had a very atypical upbringing. I attended a private American school (K - 12) with international students, American teachers, and no Arabic or religion classes. I spoke English all day, most of my friends were American, I dressed according to the fashion in the US, I listened to American music, and I read American books. Everything was American. My parents sacrificed my integration with Egyptian society so that I could have a good education and more opportunities in my future, a decision that I am highly grateful for today.
My attending this school, however, put me in a unique situation of feeling distant from the Egyptian society and not being able to relate to the youth of Egypt. It made me feel as though I was an outsider in my own country; I was very "Americanized". After graduating from high school, I came to the US on my own to attend college (something that is unthinkable for most Egyptian girls). Again my parents disregarded negative judgment and did what they thought was best for me. Now that I am far from home, I have a different perspective on things and feel the need to reconnect with my culture. My artwork serves as that link and allows me to investigate and question things that I didn't before.
Does your artwork also embody your faith in any particular way? Do you file it under Islamic art?
I definitely wouldn't categorize my work as Islamic art; it is much more about the Arab culture (although the two may be intertwined to many). I want viewers to consider me as an Arab prior to associating me with a religion. Religion is a very personal thing, and people practice it in different ways. Not only that, but we tend to forget that many Arabs aren't in fact Muslim, and I want my work to include these people as part of the Arab experience as well. Living in the US has made me feel obligated to educate people about my culture. I do think it is important as an Arab/Muslim/Woman to voice my opinion and give my perspective. I also think I have a unique perspective that is quite different from the average Egyptian.
As an Egyptian artist, do you think people are now ready to listen?
There is little intellectual art coming from Egypt. Yes, there are craftsmen, and quite good ones, but not too many artists who raise issues that are relevant to our society today, or even create art that is thought provoking. Now, especially with the politics of the Middle East, our voices need to be heard, and people are willing to listen.
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