Dalia El Toark

Belonging...

Still Image of Animated Gif

“This piece depicts a painting animated with embroidery that reflects my sense of diasporic belonging. By the use of personal images as reference, I sketch from memory an abstracted illustration using water pastels. By the application of acrylic paint, I layer thin coats of colours that build up to appear vibrant and create outlines using India ink.Transnational experiences that depict the loss and celebration of my heritage are addressed, while the colonial practice of embroidery also questions women's prescribed roles. I disseminated these criticalities through embroidered Arabic text that acts as the surface for these narratives. Through embroidery, I emphasize the colonial acts of erasure by the use of black yarn, covering portions of the paintings. In Arabic, I repeatedly embroider the words “Alef” ( ألف), the first letter of the alphabet, making it illegible. This demonstrates the erasure of language, and cultural traditions, while the Arabic text disseminates the presence of my heritage, echoing my identity.The animated Gifs bring the pieces to life, by documenting the process of embroidery, combining the digital and the tactile, it allows my work to exist in both spaces.”