By using this site, you agree to the Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.
Accept
DailynewsegyptDailynewsegypt
  • Home
  • Business
    BusinessShow More
    As Egypt decides to establish tourist chambers, federation, what is in it for tourism industry?
    As Egypt decides to establish tourist chambers, federation, what is in it for tourism industry?
    June 6, 2023
    FRA extends deadline for electing Egyptian federation for securities’ board for 3 months
    FRA extends deadline for electing Egyptian federation for securities’ board for 3 months
    June 6, 2023
    New MoU signed to develop SMEs in industrial zone in East Port Said
    New MoU signed to develop SMEs in industrial zone in East Port Said
    June 6, 2023
    CI Capital records revenues of EGP 1.6bn in 1Q 2023
    CI Capital records revenues of EGP 1.6bn in 1Q 2023
    June 6, 2023
    International Conference of Institute of National Planning discusses various types of governance
    International Conference of Institute of National Planning discusses various types of governance
    June 6, 2023
  • Politics
    PoliticsShow More
    Arab League calls on Security Council to shoulder its responsibilities, oblige Israel to end occupation
    Arab League calls on Security Council to shoulder its responsibilities, oblige Israel to end occupation
    June 5, 2023
    Institute of Diplomatic Studies holds training course for diplomats from South Sudan
    Institute of Diplomatic Studies holds training course for diplomats from South Sudan
    June 5, 2023
    Al-Sisi participates in African meeting on mediation in Russian-Ukrainian crisis
    Al-Sisi participates in African meeting on mediation in Russian-Ukrainian crisis
    June 5, 2023
    Washington, Riyadh call for new ceasefire agreement in Sudan
    Washington, Riyadh call for new ceasefire agreement in Sudan
    June 5, 2023
    Ugandan president says 54 peacekeepers killed in Somalia deadly attack
    Ugandan president says 54 peacekeepers killed in Somalia deadly attack
    June 5, 2023
  • Interviews
    InterviewsShow More
    EFG Finance to launch unified platform gathering all its financing services: Alaa Al-Afifi
    EFG Finance to launch unified platform gathering all its financing services: Alaa Al-Afifi
    May 31, 2023
    I changed my artistic path to create ‘state of wonder’: Tarek Lotfi
    I changed my artistic path to create ‘state of wonder’: Tarek Lotfi
    May 25, 2023
    I adore Ramadan drama, ‘Telt Al-Talata’ series achieved great success: Ghada Abdel Razek
    I adore Ramadan drama, ‘Telt Al-Talata’ series achieved great success: Ghada Abdel Razek
    May 8, 2023
    We aim to establish Egypt as nearshore centre for Software AG for MET region: Rami Kichli
    We aim to establish Egypt as nearshore centre for Software AG for MET region: Rami Kichli
    April 29, 2023
    Egypt-Spain relations witness remarkable development in recent years: Spanish ambassador in Cairo
    Egypt-Spain relations witness remarkable development in recent years: Spanish ambassador in Cairo
    April 18, 2023
  • Culture
  • Opinion
  • Sports
  • Lifestyle
Reading: Young artist presents the allure of being an overweight woman
Share
Notification
Latest News
As Egypt decides to establish tourist chambers, federation, what is in it for tourism industry?
As Egypt decides to establish tourist chambers, federation, what is in it for tourism industry?
Tourism
FRA extends deadline for electing Egyptian federation for securities’ board for 3 months
FRA extends deadline for electing Egyptian federation for securities’ board for 3 months
Business
New MoU signed to develop SMEs in industrial zone in East Port Said
New MoU signed to develop SMEs in industrial zone in East Port Said
Business
CI Capital records revenues of EGP 1.6bn in 1Q 2023
CI Capital records revenues of EGP 1.6bn in 1Q 2023
Business
International Conference of Institute of National Planning discusses various types of governance
International Conference of Institute of National Planning discusses various types of governance
Business
Aa
Aa
DailynewsegyptDailynewsegypt
  • Home
  • Business
  • Politics
  • Interviews
  • Culture
  • Opinion
  • Sports
  • Lifestyle
  • Home
  • Business
  • Politics
  • Interviews
  • Culture
  • Opinion
  • Sports
  • Lifestyle
Have an existing account? Sign In
Follow US
  • Advertise
© 2023 DNE News. All Rights Reserved.
Dailynewsegypt > Blog > Culture > Young artist presents the allure of being an overweight woman
Culture

Young artist presents the allure of being an overweight woman

Nada Deyaa’
Last updated: 2018/10/17 at 6:34 PM
By Nada Deyaa’ 6 Min Read
Share
SHARE

Portraits of overweight ladies, laughing, playing, and enjoying their time, with blazing florescent colours: this is the main theme young artist Esraa Zidan adopts in her paintings, aiming to reflect another side of the usual mainstream beauty concept.

Zidan, 28, is an assistant teacher at the faculty of applied arts. For years, she has witnessed that the definition of beauty is always portrayed through super skinny models, with ideal figures and perfect features, which is far from reality. Aiming to correct the beauty concept people started adopting, Zidan’s illustrated world, with women heavier than average in weight that are happily peaceful with their appearance, was the core of her drawings for the past couple of years.

“Obese women’s allure is wasted in this world,” Zidan started her talk by saying, “Scrolling through social media, TV, or any publication is enough to get them into deep depression. Being surrounded with one beauty perspective, which showcases only super skinny models as glamourous icons is not fair.”

Preparing her PhD on women who are portrayed in art in unique usual measures, Zidan found that few fat women are showcased happy in portraits.

“Nowadays, everything is dedicated and specially designed for bony women. Fashion, clothes styles, and sometimes even accessories. Even chubby, or normal females feel like they do not fit in the global trend,” she explained.

Despite drawing only curvy women, Zidan does not believe women should be so, “I’m not encouraging females to gain weight, I’m only saying they should be happy, even if they are,” she explained.

From her point of view, the only scale women should really care about, is their self-satisfaction one, “that is the most important one I believe they should pay attention to,” she added.

In her drawings, Zidan focuses on featuring obese women with free spirits, dynamically active in signing, swinging, dancing, bathing, or even playing in a park.

Adding life to the painted vibrant spirit, florescent colours are a main attractive element to the portraits.

“Through my paintings, I like to draw a world where colours are the main dominant surroundings, and laughs are the most heard sounds in it,” she adds with a smile.                     

In this world, Zidan tends to escape the real one, which with all the dirt, ugliness and people’s scowls, she believes she does not belong to.

Bright colours is one of the criticised elements Zidan has been receiving by colleagues. She explains that they were always taught in school that the excessive use of colours, is an attempt to distract the eye away from the flow of lines which are the real talent factor. Breaking the rules for drawing her “happy world” was a must for Zidan.

“How can a happy world, with only loud laughs and vibrant activities not include vibrant colours!” she exclaimed.   

Using blooming fuchsia, red, and blue, are the main theme colours of Zidan’s illustrations. 

Zidan’s latest exhibitions named “The Rainbow’s Neighbours” includes over 60 portraits. From small-sized sketches to large paintings, Zidan filled the walls of Zamalek’s Azad Gallery with paintings of optimistic overweight ladies.    

“It took me a long time to come up with a name. I knew that colours are the most vibrant element of my paintings, so the name had to be connected to it. Nonetheless, I was not sure what to name these beautiful ladies I fell in love with while drawing,” she explained.

The Palestinian poet Mahmoud Darwish’s writing, “The Beautiful Ones” was the poem which inspired the name Zidan chose.

“In his poem, Darwish says that all women are beautiful, which is the exact message I aim to send. So, I could not find any better name than what he described as the ‘The Rainbow’s Neighbours’,” Zidan asserted.

Despite being her first solo exhibition, “The Rainbow’s Neighbours” witnessed a huge success, with almost 80% of the portraits sold within the exhibition’s two-weeks period.

Receiving the feedback of women personally relating to the displayed art, was the most exciting review Zidan obtained.

“I met a lot of women who were happy to see that they are finally being considered in any art work, and were represented thrilled with their figures no matter how it looked like. That is the most delightful feeling I have received from my work: making someone else happy,” Zidan concluded.

You Might Also Like

I changed my artistic path to create ‘state of wonder’: Tarek Lotfi

The story behind Gayer-Anderson Museum in Cairo

I adore Ramadan drama, ‘Telt Al-Talata’ series achieved great success: Ghada Abdel Razek

Mona Zaki leads race in Ramadan TV series

Cleopatra was not black: Egyptian experts slam Netflix for misrepresenting history in new drama-documentary

TAGGED: overweight, Woman
Share this Article
Facebook Twitter Email Print
By Nada Deyaa’
Follow:
Culture reporter, passionate reader and writer, animals lover and arts follower.
Previous Article Recent study shows “vague” impact of microplastics
Next Article Donald Trump moves to leave postal union in latest jab at China
Leave a comment

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Ad image
Ad image

Stay Connected

Facebook Like
Twitter Follow
Instagram Follow
Youtube Subscribe

Latest News

As Egypt decides to establish tourist chambers, federation, what is in it for tourism industry?
As Egypt decides to establish tourist chambers, federation, what is in it for tourism industry?
Tourism
FRA extends deadline for electing Egyptian federation for securities’ board for 3 months
FRA extends deadline for electing Egyptian federation for securities’ board for 3 months
Business
New MoU signed to develop SMEs in industrial zone in East Port Said
New MoU signed to develop SMEs in industrial zone in East Port Said
Business
CI Capital records revenues of EGP 1.6bn in 1Q 2023
CI Capital records revenues of EGP 1.6bn in 1Q 2023
Business
//
Egypt’s only independent daily newspaper in English. Discuss the country’s latest with the paper’s reporters, editors, and other readers.

Quick Link

  • Home
  • Business
  • Politics
  • Interviews
  • Culture
  • Opinion
  • Sports
  • Lifestyle

Sign Up for Our Newsletter

Subscribe to our newsletter to get our newest articles instantly!

© 2023 DNE News. All Rights Reserved.

Join Us!

Subscribe to our newsletter and never miss our latest news, podcasts etc..

Zero spam, Unsubscribe at any time.

Removed from reading list

Undo
Welcome Back!

Sign in to your account

Lost your password?