KIFRI, Kurdistan Region — University students in Kifri removed a painting of a partially nude woman because of criticism, although preventing the art from being shown has increased its value drastically.
Sharyhan Younis, 21, the painter who is in her final year at the Kifri Fine Arts Institute told Rudaw her painting was removed “on the pretext it would affect the morality of the society.”
The colorful scene shows the back of a woman while seated facing a vanity mirror in what could be a bedroom. Her garments are draped down to her thighs, revealing part of her derriere and the side of a breast. Her arms are raised, appearing to let down her hair.
Younis described reactions to ‘The Girl in Front of the Mirror’ as “bizarre.”
She displayed four other paintings at the exhibition.
“After the support I received from my family and also after the teacher in my department encouraged me and suggested the idea for the work, I happily accepted and painted it,” she explained.
Shahryan was happy that her painting tested society’s limits.
“It is true to that shame still prevails in our society, but self-confidence pushed me to overcome it and my fingers shattered all the shames,” she added. “My dream is the provision of beauty and freedom.”
Responding to critics, Younis said: “the nudity of the body in a work of art is classified as erotic. My message was to differentiate sexy photos from paintings, and to point out the problems that some in society are facing.”
The artist received mounting personal criticism, as some saw duplicity in her own choice of clothing coupled with the way the woman is depicted in the painting.
“I do not see my style as hijab and wearing hijab and scarf is not associated with my work, because in addition to eroticism," she explained. "I have many other pieces.
“Although my work faced some obstacles and I was highly criticized, I have not yet faced any threats and this is not the first time that I have done erotic works, but it was the first time that it received such reactions."
The price of her painting has now garnered high offers within local aesthetic circles.
“Until now $3,600 has been offered,” she said. “There is still time for it to increase and we are waiting to see who is ready to pay more,” she concluded.
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