Beethoven Auction – AMINA AHMED

Beethoven’s ear – A drawing in collaboration with…, 2011
31″ x 16″ x 1.5″ (shadowbox)
paper and pins

SOLD

ARTIST STATEMENT

The decision to make a drawing using the prints of the artists in the Beethoven Festival 2011 was made during a studio visit by exhibit curator Catinca Tabacaru. I was interested in the portrait of Beethoven based on his music. The thought that stayed with me when I tried to imagine Beethoven was that he was deaf.  This is a tribute to his ear. The piece was made to the sound of Yo-Yo Ma Beethoven Cello Sonata no.2 in G minor 1st mvt adagio (1/3).  The paper used in the work is prints of works by the artists in the Beethoven Festival 2011, Ludwig’s contemporary portraits, fragments of Beethoven’s sheet music and his handwriting.  I am very grateful to the artists in this group for being so generous and especially for their trust in using parts of their work to make this drawing.

BIO

Amina Ahmed was born in Africa and is a Kutchi Turk Indian. She grew up in England and has lived in Iran and the USA.  Ahmed is a graduate of Winchester School of Art and the Chelsea School of Art.  She received her MFA from the Royal College of Art (1991), where she specialized in Visual Islamic and Traditional Arts and was awarded the Barakat Trust prize for excellence. A visual artist, educator, curator and activist. Ahmed’s projects are inspired by her interests in human rights and coalition-building. Ahmed is a member of the Elizabeth Foundation for the Arts NY.  She is currently preparing for her first solo show in India, opening Nov 4th 2011 at The Seven Arts Gallery in Delhi.