Perryhan Art

This is the story of Perryhan El-Ashmawi, a young, female artist who believes art to be a medium through which she can “control how she perceives and presents her idea of beauty”. Her grandmother was her inspiration and her mother the driving force that motivated her to practice and succeed. Her talented nature as an artist was essentially confirmed after the submission of a work of art in a children’s competition. This path of self-discovery all began during the month of Ramadan on an island in the Middle-East called Bahrain. Due to the island’s small size and minimal population, events were organized in the marketplace as a means of bringing families in small neighborhoods together to share in the festivities of Ramadan. Each child had the opportunity to portray an aspect of Arab culture. Perryhan chose to portray the ‘common man’ selling Arabic sweets in the neighborhood streets on a mobile cart. Although the event was held in a common place people visit often, that particular night Perryhan perceived it as a “children’s art gallery”. As she gazed up at the wall her drawing was hung on, a gradual smile grew and remained on her face up until she was put to bed. She still believes it to be her proudest moment, as she felt her drawing to be “the strongest amongst other drawings”. Her work was recognized! “It was a rush of happiness that made me feel proud”.