Dr Tasnim Ismail

I'm a London-based artist with a doctorate in Philosophy from UCL. My artwork explores embodied experience, symbolism, and colour. It is inspired by my PhD research on the philosophical concept of 'Flesh' (la chair), developed by French philosopher, Maurice Merleau-Ponty (1908-1961), to capture everything that is sensory and meaningful. The history of art is also a huge source of inspiration for me. I am fascinated by the sensitive depictions of mysticism achieved by the 19th-century Pre-Raphaelites in Britain, as well as the vividly primal brushstrokes of the 20th-century Fauvists in France. When creating art, I aim to balance a commitment to representational form with a passion for stylistic impulse. My ultimate focus is always feeling, whether ancient or only just arising.