by Jumanh Almahdi (GUST student)

When she first started painting, Shurooq Amin had no intention of becoming a controversial figure in Kuwait, yet two events turned her into an activist. The first came when she was 11 and her father died. His values of balancing religious conservatism with an open mind inspired her. The second came when she was divorced and her paintings celebrated the independence of women in reaction to the criticism she received as a single mother with 4 children.

Having been exhibited in Milan, Rome, New York, Spain, Germany, and Sweden, Amin is on her way to accomplish her goal of breaking out and reaching an international market. Being the first Kuwaiti woman to showcase her work at the prestigious Venice Biennial and be auctioned at Christie’s are the two achievements she is proudest of.

An event in her career has led to positive changes. Her show, “It’s a Man’s World”, was shut down and deemed “inappropriate” by Kuwaiti authorities in 2012. The censorship of the exhibition opened up the conversation of freedom of speech and expression like never before in Kuwait. Discussion panels popped up and an open dialogue on adjusting censorship laws finally ensued. Kuwaiti artists felt a sense of bravery that reflected in their work. Amin was punished and now others won’t be because she opened that closed door for artists. Although she didn’t expect this to happen, she believes it’s a part of her journey.

Kuwait is a conservative country, but Shurooq believes that within these topics, there are things that can be discussed without attacking or blasphemy. Limits on expression are ineffective, she said “it does not create peace and safety. It creates panic. When you feel like you can express yourself, you feel a sense of safety, a sense of belonging, and a sense of loyalty. That’s a very important feeling”.

Every gallery has a theme and every painting has a message. By exposing societal issues and openly discussing them, Amin is contributing to the change. An issue the artist feels strongly about and has tackled with her work is alcoholism in Kuwait. A lot of pain and shame surrounds the issue in our society. There’s a large number of struggling alcoholics, which is ironic in a country that doesn’t legalize it. A couple of years ago a rehabilitation center finally opened. By bringing attention to the issue and supporting the conversation, she is a part of that progress.

What motivates Amin to continue working and pushing boundaries is that problems, social issues and hypocrisies are never ending. As to Shurooq Amin’s future, she looks to grow. The artist says she believes she has hit every ceiling she possibly could in Kuwait. She wants to reach her full potential by perusing international galleries and says she has never felt more energetic and ambitious than right now.