Technique: Mix media. Watercolor, acrylic, oil pastel, colored pencil, gel sticks. Mounted on a wood panel.
Size: 22" W x 30"H x 1"D
2023
 
In my artwork, "I want to ride my red bicycle" I draw from a personal experience from my childhood when I asked my parents if they could buy me a red bicycle after seeing that my younger brother had been gifted a blue one. My mother's response was disheartening: "Girls don't ride bicycles; it's not appropriate." At the age of 12, I couldn't comprehend her words, so I asked why. Without much thought, she threw a response that would haunt me for many years: "You could lose your virginity, and that would be a shame."
This is not just my story but a narrative that resonates with countless girls in the Middle East, where their freedoms and desires are often stifled by misguided beliefs. In this painting, I envisioned myself soaring on a unique red bicycle, breaking free from the constraints placed upon me. Accompanying me on this journey is a bird, not conventionally beautiful but unapologetically free. Together, we revel in the joy of the open road.
I want to ride my red bicycle, serves as a powerful symbol of liberation and self-discovery. It encapsulates the universal desire to break away from societal limitations, explore one's own path, and embrace the exhilarating feeling of freedom. This painting invites viewers to reflect on the persistent struggle for individuality and equality, encouraging us to challenge societal norms that restrict the potential of young girls and women.
 
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