Reclaiming Space
In Reclaiming Space, Qinza Najm deploys the female body as a site of confrontation and reclamation. The silhouette of a woman seated in a wide-legged stance, a posture often policed or suppressed, becomes a declaration of unapologetic presence. Within this assertive form, Najm embeds intricate Persian carpet patterns, historically associated with domestic space, luxury, and cultural heritage. These lush interiors are not merely decorative, they evoke memory, lineage, and the invisible labor historically tethered to femininity. By fusing this ornamental tradition with a pose that subverts the expected decorum of female modesty, Najm reclaims both space and narrative. The body is no longer passive but monumental—layered with history, resistance, and sensual agency. In this work, the ornamental becomes political, and presence itself becomes a radical act.
Muse No More I Oil on Canvas I 36"x24" I 2019
Reclaim Space I Oil on Canvas I 36"x24" I 2019
Goddess of Love and Beauty I Oil on Canvas I 36"x24" I 2019
Whose Property I Acrylic on Canvas I 24"x24" I 2019
Reverse Gaze I Acrylic on Canvas I 24"x24" I 2019
Working Woman I Acrylic on Canvas I 24"x24" I 2019
Khabees Aurat I Zipper on Wood Panel I 3'x3' I 2019
Red Curtain I Acrylic on ZipperI 12"x12" I 2019
Khabees Aurat I Zipper on Wood Panel I 3'x3' I 2019 (closeup)