Painting for me has always been a tool through which I can identify myself and understand the world in which we live. From an early age I turned to the canvas to answer questions, usually of a political and philosophical nature. I am therefore untrained as I went on to study world politics and Middle Eastern culture at SOAS. Photography, digital art and film are some of the mediums I use to interlink my pieces. Resourcefulness is central to my work. Each piece gives birth to and becomes part of a new idea, ensuring a constant recycling and growth of creativity.
The collection of work that I have been developing over the past two years aim to establish a deeper level of understanding. The catalyst was unfortunately the death of someone who touched me very deeply. Consequently, my art acts as a medium through which I can create and recreate my own belief system, answering questions that we all ask. Poetry is therefore central to my work, mapping a spiritual and emotional development within myself. None of my paintings or poems are planned, they are instinctual true expressions of otherwise contained thoughts and feelings. Throughout my work I draw on various cultures (e.g., Mauri, Persian and modern- particularly graffiti) reflecting the different influences in my life. My latest collection is based on the Persian poet and philosopher Hafiz. Being half Iranian, Persian and Middle Eastern culture is something I’ve always taken a great interest in. The Persian script has an inherent beauty that is very different to the English script, enhancing the style of my work. I focus on the way in which different languages are suited to different thought processes and messages. None of the pieces stand-alone however, they are all interlinked, answering the same question. images ©copyright Nilly Brook 2517
