Nour Elbasuni explores emotional intimacy and cultural heritage in domestic scenes through symbolic painting

Nour Elbasuni's work focuses on themes of emotional seclusion and intimacy within home environments, utilizing symbolic items to examine male vulnerability while reflecting diverse cultural influences. Her background in Qatar and Egyptian roots inform her depiction of spaces, highlighting the closeness and community prevalent in Arabic-speaking societies. In pieces such as Kousa (2021), she illustrates groups of men sharing intimate moments, like cooking together, suggesting a sense of emotional security among them. Elbasuni incorporates symbolic significance into ordinary objects and scenarios, influenced by psychological theories, including those of Carl Jung, to evoke collective memories and nostalgia. Titles like Friday Afternoon (2021) encapsulate culturally meaningful experiences. Through her art, she seeks to normalize private, reflective moments in public spaces, inviting viewers into these tender realms. This interview was first published in Canvas 121: If Walls Could Talk.