German-Pakistani artist Jasmin Siddiqui, who played Hera and is half of the street art duo known as Herakut, brought a new collection of scavengers this month at tHERApy Room 2 at Corey Helford Gallery. This solo exhibition extends a series of works by Hera, unveiled in 2021, which also depicts a young woman with big eyes wearing a wild animal head. Defined by the artist's graffiti style, with spray paint marks of dripping, splashing and sweeping, the portraits connect the wonders, innocence and innocence of adolescence to the broader human condition. "Every message I write and share with the world is actually a message to the inner child, and the vulnerable parts need extra encouragement, talk about hope, magic and a little escapism," she said.
Hera first picked up a can of spray paint 23 years ago, and she believes the works reflect her evolution as an artist and as a person, saying:
If you wish, you can think of each piece as a healing session, the therapist will be Hera wielding a brush and spray paint, and the patient will be Jasmin, the woman under the animal metaphorical hat and mask. Describing my work in this way makes it feel like I've never stopped working as a duo.
"A brain that rarely forgets needs a heart that is willing to forgive", acrylic paint, spray paint, charcoal on canvas, 39.5 x 31.5 inches
"There is a deep affection between homeless people", acrylic paint, spray paint, charcoal on canvas, 31.5 x 31.5 inches
Details of "The Meek Shall Inherit the Earth", acrylic paint, spray paint, charcoal on canvas, 39.4 x 39.4 inches
"Reading together is like sharing an imaginary friend", acrylic paint, spray paint, charcoal on canvas, 39.5 x 31.5 inches
Left: "Never King Just for Yourself", acrylic paint, spray paint, charcoal on canvas, 47.2 x 31.5 inches. Right: "Thoughts Are Free", acrylic paint, spray paint, charcoal canvas, 63 x 47.25 inches