Final year project
Final Project: Time Spent Indoors [Read more]
Sara Osman, Far from Home III, 2021. Plaster, Clay, Metal and Sand [Sculpture], 150 x 200 x 120 cm (Variable).
Far from Home has been developed over a series of works. Sara Osman has particularly been inspired by the Oil painting Syria which depicts “war” on Syrian architecture. By translating these ideas into 3D form Osman increases the level of destruction, disaster and discomfort of the viewer which is significant to comment on the suffocation and travesty Palestine faces today.
As well as being inspired by the destruction of “war” on architecture Far from Home presents a fictional landscape of deformed architectural buildings that represents an unpleasant time in Osman’s life. The domineering multiples suggest suffocation and anxiety which significantly symbolises enmeshment and the overwhelming protectiveness of a cultured household.
Transferring internal catastrophic thoughts into 3D form has helped Osman to physically examine her thoughts in real-time and space which is significant to further understand her psyche and to view self-development. In retrospect Far from Home explores the mind of a grieving person – represented by the disastrous towers – and is a form of self-sabotage rather than a factual depiction of Osman’s supportive family.
Sara Osman, Healthy Adult: I Trust Myself, 2020. Latex and Sand [Installation], 752 x 83 cm.
Healthy Adult: I Trust Myself is a scripted Psychoanalysis prepared for when the mind is in an anxious state. There are two people in the dialogue, one person questioning their catastrophic thoughts and a wise, strong person guiding and grounding them.
Healthy Adult: I Trust Myself was created after the first COVID-19 Lockdown when Sara Osman’s anxiety was at its peak, and it is a significant milestone to identify her self-development. Healthy Adult: I Trust Myself brings awareness to the importance of therapy and using grounding techniques – speaking to your wiser self – to soothe your inner critique and anxious self.
Sara Osman, Healthy Adult: I Am Safe, 2021. Latex and Sand [Mixed Media Poster], 120 x 83 cm.
Healthy Adult: I Am Safe is a conversation between the anxious mind and a wise, strong person – the Healthy Adult. The anxious mind is questioning the effect their past trauma may have on their future, while the wiser person guides and grounds them into the present.
Sara Osman uses repetitive and mindful movement to connect the mind and body, ground herself in the present, and transfer her energy into the materials through touch. Using the Healthy Adult – Osman’s wiser self – is a significant psychoanalysis technique that builds trust in yourself and silences the anxious mind.
Sara Osman, Syria, 2017, Oil & Polyfilla on Board, [A-level Painting],120 x 90 cm.
The Oil painting Syria depicts typical characteristics of bombed Syrian architecture – geometric bony structure, deep black holes, and masses of rubble – which has greatly influenced the orderly, rectangular but damaged architecture in Far from Home. Like the fragmented city in Syria, Far from Home depicts irregular parts that fluctuate in height and the level of destruction to increases the sense of displacement - particularly hinting at the discomfort and lack of belonging. Osman has used physical separation between the parts to signify closeness and overwhelm which further comments on the intrusive nature of Turkish culture.
Sara Osman, Healthy Adult: I Trust Myself, 2020. Latex and Sand [Installation Close-up], 752 x 83 cm.
Details of Healthy Adult: I Trust Myself.
Sara Osman, Healthy Adult: I Am Safe, 2021. Latex and Sand [Mixed Media Poster Close-up], 120 x 83 cm.
Details of Healthy Adult: I Am Safe.
Building Boundaries, 2020, Latex, Plaster and Sand hanging from Steel Wire, [Installation],1460 x 1480 mm.
The delicate screen prints and type-written poetry depicts sincere gratitude for Osman’s supportive family which contradicts the feeling of nostalgia. The positive text involves free-thinking but the tiles produced via bodily movement appear poignant and corroded. This suggests that the mind and body are not aligned and that further healing is needed.
The fourth dimension – time – is significant in Osman’s work to view ongoing change not only in self but also in the properties of the material. For instance, as the Latex dries out the intimate, type-written poems slowly reveal themselves and over a long period of time they will start to decay. Constant change is significant in Osman’s work to capture the authenticity of evolution and celebrates the life and joy of the here and now.
Building Boundaries, 2020, Latex, Plaster and Sand hanging from Steel Wire [Installation Close-ups], 1460 x 1480 mm.
Details of Building Boundaries: the printed composition, the print embedded into Latex, the Latex embedded into Plaster and finally an image showcasing the development of the composition.
Sara Osman
The key themes of my practice are grief, self-development, and examination. I use psychoanalysis techniques such as affirmations and conversations with my healthy adult to ground and support the anxious mind and to further understand my psyche. Touch is significant within the making to further connect the mind and body. For instance, using Plaster allows me to feel and view the continuous transformation from powdery slush to a smooth liquid and finally to a solid. This process allows me to become aware of my senses and bodily moment which grounds me in the present.
I am driven and dedicated to my art practice which has allowed me to develop skills in a variety of processes and mediums such as; Metal, Wood, Ceramics, Plaster, Print, Photography and Paint. Being ambitious and spontaneous has led to discoveries regarding the properties of materials, large-scale installations and the use of unconventional materials, such as the combination of Latex, Sand and Plaster.
After university, I am hoping to develop my art practice during an Artist in Residency/Art Fellow programme or work alongside other artists to produce Interactive installations that encourage participation and spark joy and excitement from the viewer - the interaction between the artwork and the viewer interests me, especially, if the work generates a mental/physical reaction from the viewer. I am also planning to continue exhibiting and selling artwork remotely.
Final year project
Final Project: Time Spent Indoors
Awards
I have exhibited in over ten galleries across the UK including The Manufacturing Technological centre in Coventry, The Bank of Cyprus in London for three consecutive years, New Walk Museum and Art Gallery in Leicester for two consecutive years and I am currently curating two solo shows in Loughborough. More recently – due to the COVID-19 pandemic – I have been featured in several virtual exhibitions and magazines including Wave Press magazine that successfully marked International Woman’s Day 2021, The Holy Art’s virtual exhibition PHENOMENON that showcased the work of the brightest emerging and established artists on the international scene and The Spring Exhibition hosted by Shim Art Network and exhibited on TDSA’s, Vane Gallery’s and Artsy’s social media platforms and websites.
While studying Industrial Design in my first year at Loughborough University I was shortlisted for the international Student Starpack Award for packaging design which challenged my creativity and understanding of retail packaging and developed my CAD and model making skills. I also completed a weeklong Solidworks Essentials course with Innova Systems – experts in Solidworks training and support – in Cambridge. This course was to further my understanding and skills of the CAD/CAM programme to increase the quality and complexity of my designs.
Work Experience
In 2019 I worked as a Ceramic Specialist and Camp Counsellor at Camp Starlight, USA. I created exciting projects for the campers and ensured that they ranged in skill to cater for the different age groups and abilities which engaged and challenged the campers. I was responsible for creating lesson plans, presenting pre-made glazed models, and teaching using clear instructions, as well as, tutorials, 1-1 assistance and using diagrams/worksheets. I was also responsible for regularly loading and unloading the kiln and running the Ceramic workshop via stocktaking, ordering stock and organising/cleaning. As well as teaching l shared an accommodation with nine campers which meant that I was on duty 24/7. I was always aware of my camper’s mental health and wellbeing and ensured that they could trust and confide in me but also respected and listened to me when needed. I encourage the campers to participate in different activities to increase their confidence and growth and I dealt with any disputes between the campers to ensure that all campers had a fulfilling summer.
In 2018 I worked as a waitress amongst other colleagues to serve customers and provide a smooth service at the trendy coffee shop Hopper & Bean, London. I was well received by the customers and staff alike due to my helpful, and professional nature. My ability to communicate clearly allowed me to swiftly answer any queries or complaints and my positive attitude and friendliness increased the morale of the workplace. I was often trusted with extra responsibilities, including working on the tills which increased my confidence and efficiency in the workplace.
In June 2017 I worked as a shop assistant at the contemporary homeware store Brit Maison, London. I was responsible for managing the store in the absence of my line manager, as well as, working on the till, stock taking, answering the phone, and using Excel to record inventory and invoicing. Due to my creativity, efficiency, and precision, I was also in charge of personal gift wrapping and photographing the interior décor and displays around the shop and uploading them onto social media to increase publicity.