2019 International Art Competition, 3rd Place

“My painting is inspired by the legendary Goddess Ishtar, specifically the era when she is behind the seven gates and rising. Part of this painting is about the long-suffering of, and the negligence towards Mother Earth, meanwhile her womb is full and deep inside, behind the seven gates. Ishtar is trying to return to life above the surface again, passing the gates and regaining her powers. Another part is about new life; blooming trees and the rerising of the seven layers of Zaquart’s Temple, representing new life up and above. When the Goddess showed up, as it says: “From our origins to our distention many eras to go through"

Agnes had interest in drawing and painting since childhood. She studied oil painting, color techniques, layering and tone analysis through observation from Assyrian Iraqi artist Adwar Alrsam and Iraqi art teacher Tariq Mekhail. Agnes later worked in a gallery in Baghdad where she was given the creative freedom to play with paint and sell her work after graduating from the Institute of Technology, Baghdad. In New Zealand, she attended life drawing workshops and has experimented with new artistic techniques. Her practice spans through different abstract art technique and styles.