Amsterdam, May 12th, 2017

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To whom it may concern,

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Razia Barsatie is an observant artist and has a natural instinct for imagery in relation to the topics at stake. The preciseness of her work, and ease with which she develops it, is the result of a focussed and organic working process, as if she is following a hidden execution plan. Her imaginative style of thinking enables her to deal with a personal mix of content in a way that is un-compromising, strong and at times radical and confrontational. With a strange, full hearted vulnerability, she seduces the viewer to get involved in and accept her re-interpretations and haunting cross-references in the so - called ‘surrounding world’  through narratives which include the heritage of her caribbean background. 

In doing so she is not at all dogmatic; a strange mix of the ‘personal’, dealing with cultural heritage issues in a very sophisticated manner and intuitive (at times almost rational) decisions share a place in her work and merge into an exciting amalgam. 

The use of uncommon media such as the f.e. the smell of spices and herbs, the ritual of doing laundry etc. tend to appeal strongly on the subconscious. They create roads by which the onlooker of her work is pulled in by their non- linguistic status and hit therefore more intense after some time. Time and its understanding as the revealer of meaning is a strong asset of Barsatie, her calmness and engaging manner of working allows you to linger and dream, to the field and moments where real meaning comes in.

 

Mentor

Roos Theuws (visual artist)

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