The road from inspiration to executing a tangible artistic vision can be a harsh journey. Constructing a fully realized piece of art can be a difficult task for many creative innovators. While creating art can be challenging, there are moments that occur within the action of artmaking which are rewarding and even soothing. This dichotomy between hardship and therapy through art can best be symbolized by Princess Rashid’s residency in Peru.
Before Rashid traveled to Peru, she felt confident that she knew what to expect. Unfortunately, her excursion to Machu Picchu was not what she had expected. Rashid felt herded along by the tourist guides and when she lost her way, the guides scolded her. In addition to dealing with domineering tourist guides, the trip was also physically demanding. Having received chemotherapy only a few months prior to arriving in Peru, Rashid found hiking up the steep mountainous terrain to be taxing on her health in way she had not anticipated.
Despite all her frustration and exhaustion, her experience at Machu Picchu deeply impacted her artwork. Rashid described the ruins and the landscape of the ancient civilization as breathtakingly beautiful. After her harrowing yet sublime voyage to Machu Picchu, Rashid destroyed much of the work she made during her residency in a fit of inspiration. With those pieces obliterated, she then created the exquisite and acclaimed monotype prints which are featured in Yellow House’s Life Under Construction.
That instance of Rashid’s life serves as a testament to the spontaneity of inspiration and its penchant to rear its lovely head in moments of frustration and doubt. Life and the process of making art can be brutal and unforgiving, satisfying and fulfilling. Rashid’s work and lived experiences express the fullness of that experience.
By France Grant, Yellow House Fellow