𝐀𝐫𝐭𝐢𝐬𝐭 𝐢𝐧 𝐑𝐞𝐬𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐲 | 𝐀𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐚 𝐁𝐞𝐧 𝐈𝐬𝐦𝐚𝐢𝐥
ᴠɪꜱᴜᴀʟ ᴀʀᴛꜱ | ᴘᴀɪɴᴛɪɴɢ
Amina Ben Ismail (b. 1995) is a Tunisian born and raised artist currently based in London.
Trained in Anthropology, Visual Arts and in Theatre, her practice gravitates toward the portrayal of ritual, and the liminal spaces where lived experience transforms into art.
Her work explores the politics of gathering, through the intertwined histories of Tunisian, Arab, and Irish cultures— foregrounding the value of what they share: conviviality, humour, and generosity. Formally, She is drawn to imperfection and spontaneity: irregular compositions, loose, gestural shapes, and the emotional immediacy of bold color. Working primarily with oil pastels over acrylics or oil paint, she often references the texture and palette of art naïf to imbue her pieces with a sense of honesty, intimacy, and play.
____
#ybaResidency #tunisiancontemporaryart #CreativeCommunity #ArtisticGrowth #culturalimpact #artresidency
i swam in the mediterranean sea many times this summer, and every summer before. one of my favorite childhood memories is the excitement I felt, sitting in the back of the car with my cousins on the way to the beach, counting how many strangers would wave back at us.
for me, the sea is home. and not any sea - b7ar tounes. the blue-green colour, the warmth, the sound, the light. it’s familiar, it’s home.
but for the first time this summer, i thought - how lucky am I? that I can swim in this sea, the same one my grand parents swam in. this sea that holds so many of my childhood memories, that remains unchanged, always there, like a friend. A constant, even when life seems uncertain.
how lucky am i, I thought, that I can sit on the sand and look out at it, or bathe in it if I wish.
and then i imagined what it would feel like if the sea was taken away from me. A part of my childhood, of my identity, violently confiscated, stolen. i imagined what it would feel like if it were no longer allowed or safe for me and my cousins to wave at strangers on the way to the beach - if we never even made it there because of arbitrary checkpoints and unjust permits. I felt sad. I felt angry. such violence.
fuck zionism. free palestine.
TOAST is OUT 🥳📺
As the hustlers hustle and capitalism capitalises, our silly little show was made possible not by a big budget and celebrities, but because people in our community trusted us with their spaces, connections, time and skills.
I really hope the freedom and JOY we felt making this transpires. Having to fight giggles through most takes has to be one of the best feelings there is. I’m so grateful for my community.
This is also the beginning of Tom Fontana Presents - a platform on YouTube and Substack that will be showcasing new writing and projects. We are so thankful to Tom (@sonofsicilia ) for showcasing TOAST and excited for the journey!
Link to the eps is in the bio of @toast.series . We rely on you to make it fly - watch it, and send it to your mama 🩷
