Faculty of Art

Drawing and Painting

Abrar Al Mouktaran

"he's a fucking dictator"

The most personal and vulnerable painting I have ever made.

“In this painting, I capture my earliest memory of trauma, a moment filled with intense anger fueled by pain and anguish. The artwork depicts a younger version of myself squatting on the floor, crying with a bloody nose, seen from the perspective of my oppressor, who has hearts on his shoes to symbolize the disrespect he has for love. The way he hurts me and says, "I did that because I love you," Well, fuck love if that's what love is. The use of oil pastels in the painting supports the themes of lost innocence and childhood, lending a deliberately childish and vandalized aesthetic to the work. While the bold words were inspired by a conversation I had with my brother about the intended person, as we have recently started talking about our emotions to support each other in recognizing triggers and facilitating healing.”