Dealing with my daughter’s eczema was frustrating as a mother.  As an artist, however, I was intrigued by the textures of human skin in health and disease, along with the associative emotions that arose.

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The skin textures of eczema I saw daily on my daughter’s skin became an inspiration to create unconventional textile surfaces. The unpredictability of the occurrence and severity of the eczema symptoms is echoed by the uncertain way that the silk paint moves through the fabric. The hand embroidery—especially the knots—is related to the sensitivity and patience to deal with the disease and treat my daughter’s inflamed skin. My feelings of stress, frustration, struggle, containment, and restriction are expressed through the textures of silk painting, embroidery, and colors, forms, and surfaces that allude to inflammation, roughness, itchiness, discomfort, and the stress of the skin.

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‘Intimate Gravity” is a group of circular mixed media works based on eczema's histology and the patterns and textures on the skin. Based on microscopic images, the surfaces suggest fungi growth, visually beautiful yet appalling in terms of the biological damage engendered. Some of the pieces have abstract forms derived from images of gut, liver, and kidney that point to the possibility of leaky gut and bad gut bacteria, which are known to cause eczema. Abstract representations of liver and kidney forms in other pieces refer to the evidence that overtaxing of these organs by toxins can also lead to eczema. The black background represents my sleepless nights investigating my daughter's skin condition through a microscope while she slept. Born in a period of suffering and intensive motherly caregiving, this series has grown into a highly personal expression of beauty and intimacy as my child has become healthy with time, medicine, and maternal care.

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Intimate Gravity was part of Genome: Unlocking Life’s Code", at the Rochester Art Center!!

'The exhibit was developed by the Smithsonian Museum and  presented and sponsored by the Mayo Clinic Center for Individualized Medicine.' Shahnoor was part of the Race Discussion Series as an artist exploring the intersection of Art & Science. hosted by Rochester Art Center and The Science Museum of Minnesota.

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