Amina El-Edroos is a visual artist and art educator from Islamabad. With a BFA from Beaconhouse National University, El-Edroos’s interest lies in creating images through collaging and layering photographs and videos. For her, everyday experiences prove to be a source of inspiration; she documents various aspects of her daily life in suburban Islamabad in visuals and video. Extensive documentation provides her with insight into the community at large which she then translates into, and addresses, in her work. Her work has been showcased in Lahore, Karachi, Islamabad, the US, UAE and India.
Along with her art practice, El-Edroos is also an art educator. She is currently a Lecturer at National College of Arts, Rawalpindi. She takes part in our interview series to shed light on more of her psyche.
The Proust Questionnaire has its origins in a parlor game popularized (though not devised) by Marcel Proust, the French essayist and novelist, who believed that, in answering these questions, an individual reveals his or her true nature.
What is your idea of perfect happiness?
To go to any part of the world to make art.
What is your greatest fear?
Failing as a parent.
Which living person do you most admire?
Women who are their own boss.
What is your greatest extravagance?
I think my work gear is a constant extravagance.
What do you consider the most overrated virtue?
I’d like to say, patience.
On what occasion do you lie?
I avoid speaking the truth if I think it will hurt the other person.
What do you most dislike about your appearance?
I could slouch a little less.
Which living person do you most despise?
Men who spew hatred and commit crimes in the name of religion.
What is the quality you most like in a man?
Creativity and intellect.
What is the quality you most like in a woman?
Creativity and intellect, why discriminate?
Which words or phrases do you most overuse?
“Ek second”.
What or who is the greatest love of your life?
My daughter.
Which talent would you most like to have?
The ability to make hand drawn animations.
If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be?
Be more of a risk taker.
What do you consider your greatest achievement?
Becoming a mother.
If you were to die and come back as a person or a thing, what would it be?
Leonardo Da Vinci, make the Mona Lisa and live a contentful life thereafter knowing no other artwork will be as famous.
Where would you most like to live?
Up north, in a cabin in the woods.
What is your most treasured possession?
Lots and lots of photographs.
What do you regard as the lowest depth of misery?
Living in constant regret.
What is your most marked characteristic?
Inquisitiveness.
What do you most value in your friends?
All my friends are genuine humans.
Who are your favorite writers?
I read a book by Margaret Atwood in A level for literature. I have loved her writing ever since.
Who is your hero of fiction?
Marty Mcfly from Back to the Future.
Who are your heroes in real life?
Creatives such as Casey Niestat, who have managed to make successful enterprises around their work.
What is your motto?
Live and let live.
