Mariam Jumaan , Maryam Alsindi , Mona Almoataz , Noof Alrefaei
Ownership
The “Ownership” exhibition focuses on ownership, questioning traditional views and encouraging dialogue about its complexities. It looks at how what we own shapes our identity, our relationships, and our communities. The exhibit also explores the less tangible aspects of ownership like intellectual property, cultural heritage and personal experiences, highlighting how these influence our sense of self and belonging.
Before social media dominated our lives, our days were characterized by calmness and tranquillity. The boundaries separating our worlds were clear, and our priorities were rooted in real life. We lived our moments and shaped our memories day by day, in a tangible experience. Success was measured by specific criteria, whether in school, family settings, or within the small family unit.
We were the centre of our worlds, exploring them with honesty and simplicity. We read books and watched television at designated times, where there was a time for enjoyment and another for seriousness. Simple things brought us happiness and sufficed, and we felt our freedom and ability to choose.
Social media arrived, making our lives fast-paced and noisy. News reached us from everywhere, overwhelming us with fake achievements and manufactured happiness from people with whom we had no connection. It imposed upon us the creation of memories we did not desire, leaving our minds burdened with an overwhelming amount of information and new concepts that robbed us of comfort and sometimes sleep.
Despite the benefits that social media may offer, it has accelerated the pace of our lives and made us feel powerless in front of it. In the past, addiction to these platforms was viewed as a problem, but today it has become the controlling force in our lives. As it is said, it is the “hidden ownership” that has taken away our freedom and our right to shape our own memories.
My artistic work explores human relationships and the cultural changes that shape our lives. I aim to reflect on the continuous evolution of cultures, revealing the unique stories within each individual. Through my art, I strive to convey a positive message, believing in its power to inspire hope and change. By finding beauty in everyday objects and simple moments, I seek to enrich viewers’ experiences and deepen their appreciation for cultural diversity. I invite you to explore my work and discover how art can capture cultural interactions and express human emotions in a meaningful way.
Dream interpretation is a science of understanding symbols and meanings in dreams, based on various traditions, beliefs, and cultures. For me, my dreams are my sole possession, reminding me of who I am: seeing horses confirms my courage and strength in facing life, seeing fish recalls my great successes and the blessings God has given me, and seeing birds in my dreams shows my spirit free from all constraints.
We come into this world with nothing and we leave it that same way. Physical possessions eventually come and go, but the emotional attachment that comes with them remains - a memory engrained forever. My memories are the ultimate prized possession.
Walking through a small town in Northern Germany, on a quiet cobblestone street lined with floral brambles I fall upon my latest collectible.
Surrounding this small street are wooden doorways painted in hues of blue and red, ensconced in quaint walls of white. Tempered glass windows aglow with the melody of life. The doorways are crimson keepers of secrets and azure passages to chronicles unknown. They are gateways to lives being lived, to joys, to sorrows, and everything in between. My heart captures its prize and my mind stores it away. A beautiful memory, added to my treasure trove of prized possessions.
The artworks in this collection are designed to invoke the emotion behind the artist's most valuable possession, her memories.