Having found its own voice in the regional art scene, Esraa Zidan’s brush paints a different narrative from the conventional beauty standards we’ve seen on social media for years. On top of that, her work is always identified with a cheerful, light-hearted energy. We sat down with her to learn about her inspirations and her journey as an artist.
How did you first come across your passion for art?
I got into Applied Arts in college, and I honestly didn’t really know what it was about until I began studying it. I was suddenly getting high scores and discovering my love for art. Even then, I didn’t picture this field as a career for me. My journey started a year after finishing my master’s degree in Human Anatomy for Artists at Helwan University. There is something about academic arts that really gives you plenty of head material to work with, and then you can pair that with your personal artistic fingerprint.
There is a consistent theme of plus-size portrayal in your paintings. What is your heart behind this message?
When I was picking a theme for my PhD, I chose this topic; the idea behind it is to portray unusual beauty standards. I believe Instagram really messes with our self-image. For a while, I went through a lot of self-doubt, feeling something was very wrong with how I looked. In a way, I wanted to rebel against that and paint bigger-sized ladies laughing, having fun and not having a care in the world.
When it comes to teenagers, I think we should be intentional about not making a huge issue about their weight and reacting to it like it’s a big taboo or the end of the world. Instead, we can simply suggest diet adjustments if they are not eating healthy, without making them feel like there is something wrong with them.
We’ve also noticed you’re a big fan of books. Do they play a role in your personal inspiration? What are two of your favorite reads right now?
Very much so, specifically when it comes to biographies and autobiographies. You get to delve into a whole life story and you kind of live through all of it yourself. I think I might have gone crazy without books during quarantine. A book I just finished reading, that is still fresh in my mind, is called ‘Al-Mawloudah’ by Nadia Kamel. Another favorite has to be the classic ‘Breakfast at Tiffany’s’ and I think it’s a must-read for anyone who works in the field of art. It teaches you a lot about the value of artwork, and how many people’s discarded work was later appreciated and cherished, sometimes even long after they have passed.
Tell us a bit about your go-to creative process as you create a new piece of artwork.
I find inspiration everywhere, whether it’s something I read in a book, a place I visited and connected with, a scene from a movie or a dream I keep getting. One time I was watching ‘Salon Zahra’, for example, and a sofa really caught my eye so I took a quick picture for inspiration. After that, I sketch it out and decide on what size will make it look better, then the painting begins.
Do you have any advice for younger artists who don’t know where to start?
Firstly, I recommend that they read about art. They should read about various eras and what makes them special, and different styles, including what they like and don’t like, at least in the beginning. You also have to be smart about where you exhibit your work. You have to learn how to sell your work and price it. Let me tell you, it’s better not to overprice it than to resort to lowering your prices later. And it’s always a gamble because you don’t know if you will go higher or stay at your level for a while. I would say, at the beginning, be reasonable and only cover the expenses of your painting along with the value of the time you spent on it. In time, you can gradually aim higher.
Biggest artistic influences?
I’ve always been influenced by artists who have their own art personality, namely Gustav Klimt and Picasso. I would wonder how they could make a hand or portrait look so unique compared to everyone else’s work.
How was your experience being a part of the Egypt International Art Fair earlier this year?
It was amazing to get that exposure and have a platform to showcase my work like that. I even got great feedback and all of my paintings were sold out.
Any dreams you still hope to achieve in your artistic career?
I’ve noticed a huge difference between the art scene in the Arab world and the rest of the world. I feel like I’ve established an audience in Egypt, UAE, Qatar, Bahrain and Kuwait, so my dream is to expand my reach beyond that in the years to come.
