Noreen about herself:
I feel liberal and free, yet conservative and religious. Religious, yet a sinner. In my work, I explore what it means to navigate back and forth between my Pakistani and Dutch upbringings. Am I a good Muslim or a liberal Dutch artist? Or could I be both? Being a product of an unhappy marriage with parents who clash culturally and morally in various ways has called into question the meaning and purpose of my own identity. Drawing portraits has always been a therapy for me. An escape from a bittersweet household. Finding myself. Through drawing, I discover what Islam means to me. A completely different approach than how I learned about Islam at home. Drawing is my Islam. The misunderstandings, the abuse, the deep sorrow, the cultural clashes, and the painful love between my parents, as well as the disapproval of pursuing art in the early stages of my drawing career, had suppressed a fire of anger and liberating energy within me. To finally let go of everything and give it my all. Experimenting with various mixed media drawing techniques is a A metaphor for truly finding who I am. I couldn't fulfill my duty to become a good Muslim woman, nor could I pursue a career in science as my father wanted. But maybe, just maybe, I can become the contemporary artist I so desperately desire. And what role does Islam play in that?