Dina Suliman
The Velveteer, 2021
Acrylic based mixed media and fabric
100CM X 70CM
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Not as a single painting has cost me as much time and agony as the Velveteer. Suffice it to say, at least 3 complete paintings lie beneath its surface. I...
Not as a single painting has cost me as much time and agony as the Velveteer. Suffice it to say, at least 3 complete paintings lie beneath its surface. I loathed each iteration incessantly, and progressively. I had tried to save it, transform it, give it time, return to it. Hour after hour, colour after colour. Without fail, I loathed it more every single time. Significantly more. In the end, with more frustration than I could express, I gave up. Abandoned it in a corner like rats a sinking ship.
As far as I was concerned, it bore nothing more than a beautiful title wasted on it. The Velveteer.
A month or so later the gallery visited my studio to select the pieces for the exhibition. I was in Cairo at the time, Dom (husband) welcomed the directors / art dealers.
I called Dom eagerly the moment they left to find out which pieces they had selected. He mentions Velveteer. “Mais what Dom?!?? (*Dom is Swiss) Tu deconnes! (I didn’t say that but wish I had in retrospect) You must have misheard!! Are you sure? The Velveteer? Do you know which one it is? Dom? The one I hate? Was it out with the others? Why? Did you tell them it is unfinished?”
And suddenly, rescuing Dom from my wrath, a message notification from the gallery with pictures of the pieces they picked.
Cliff hanger.
The Velveteer right there, front and center. I gently noted to the gallery that it was unfinished. The response? “It is one of your best pieces”.
Shock.
Horror.
I wrestled with the option to have it exhibited in that form, but in the end I could not. I finally agreed with the gallery to do more work on it as I was unhappy with it. I powered through it like a maniac. Adrenaline levels soaring.
And here she is, in her finest form. I could not be any happier or prouder.
I love her.