Helene Mukhtar

My photographs are usually at the base of my creative process. These images are printed on paper and glued onto the canvas. Graffiti from New York, architecture from Germany or Pakistan, headless mannequins from the streets of Paris are collaged together. Out of this visual cacophony, I create a harmonious whole, an abstract urban landscape around which I develop my narrative. It is like a puzzle. I use acrylic paint and sometimes magic markers. I proceed through trial and error and constantly build and destroy. In recent years, graffiti have become a major source of inspiration.

My work reflects my preoccupations with current events: war, militarism, and people's struggles against impossible odds. The use of drawings and cartoon-like characters as well as bright, energetic colors enables me to inject humor and visual appeal into a serious discussion about war and violence.