Masa Ali

Exeter

"I have neither rules nor methods," says Pierre-Auguste Renoir in his artist statement. Saying it so abruptly may come across as ignorant, but I prefer to be referred to as stubborn. Once I've made up my mind, I don't like wasting time and I put my plan into action as soon as possible.

It's difficult for me to express myself and what I'm thinking or imagining. It may appear unreasonable to those who have the luxury of expressing themselves without being misunderstood, but it is no one's fault.

As a child, I was completely obsessed with Japanese animation, also known as anime. I became interested in shows in various languages, English, Turkish, and Korean, but primarily Japanese. Watching anime still brings me joy, but now I observe the techniques used in its creation and how certain things

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YEAR 11 ART EXHIBITION BOOK | 2021 - 2022

appeal to the viewers. I did digital art for a year and a half before coming to Aiglon, but since then, I've switched to acrylic and discovered my passion in oil painting. Instead of the surreal and fictional art that is common in anime, I prefer hyperrealism.

I've always been interested in pushing myself. Hyperrealism, especially in oil paint, is extremely difficult, and while I may give up at times, I'll actually be thinking about a different approach to the piece. Whether that means throwing it out or simply repainting over it.

In my work, especially recently, I've explored more ideas involving realism, as illustrated by my new oil hand painting, the unfortunate hand sculpture made of clay, and my old acrylic skull painting. I believe we will never truly understand if we see the world in the same way. As a result, in my work, I like to show my intentions in a clear manner, which allows me to convey my ideas the way I want.

Not only am I concentrating on hyperrealism at the moment, but I'm also attempting to shed light on the entire concept of 'expectations vs reality.' As a Palestinian, I am aware of the amount of media coverage we get; I am witnessing it firsthand, and I continue to believe that not enough people are aware of it. Coming to a diverse community like aiglon made me realise what the media had to offer in desperate times, and as an artist, I can use my skills to portray what the people of my land have wanted to do for ages.

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