Who are you?

I am Fatma Shanan, born and raised in Julis, a Druze village in Northern Israel, and currently living and working between Tel Aviv and Zurich, Switzerland.

What is your creative area of expertise?

I focus on figurative painting, mainly working with oil on canvas. As someone who grew up in a Druze community My art delves into themes of identity through the relationship between the human body and the natural world.

Main inspiration?

My work is inspired by nature, literature—particularly Walt Whitman’s poetry—and philosophy. The performative aspect of my practice helps me merge the physical and symbolic dimensions of art.

Tell us a little bit about the work you chose to share

This piece explores the connection between the body and nature, while also addressing personal matters related to social conflicts. The figure, represented by myself with flowers sprouting from the shoulders, blurring the boundaries between the human form and the natural world. It reflects themes of growth, transformation, and the fluidity of identity.

What is your work process?

My process involves both painting and performative processes. I create pre-staged scenes and deconstruct them through my work, often drawing from personal experiences while addressing universal questions.

One special moment that happened to you this year

A special moment for me this year was the opportunity to present my work in the Israel Museum in the exhibition Lucid Dreams that opened on December 24.

A piece of advice

My advice is to trust the process, stay open to where your work leads you, and embrace the fluidity of creativity.

What’s next?

In March 2025, I will present a solo exhibition at Art Port in Tel Aviv, where I will showcase a new body of work exploring themes such as identity, the body, and the connection between the self and nature.