Rad Hourani's "ANONYMOUS MORPHOLOGIES" challenges the rigid categories and binary standards that continue to shape perceptions of physical identity. The aesthetic norms of the silhouette, symbolizing femininity, and muscular physiques, representing masculinity, are critically examined in this body of work, which questions the categorization of individuals based on anatomical traits, reinforcing unrealistic and often harmful expectations for appearance and behavior.

These reduced body types—hourglass, rectangle, pyramid, circle, oval, or trapezoid—lead to societal pressures like body dysmorphia and gender dysphoria. Rad's series dissects and dismantles these conventions through bold and playful compositions that transcend traditional notions of bodily identity, offering a more inclusive view of diversity. Each piece engages with the human form and its interaction with space, drawing on modernist and primitivist influences to create visuals that feel both timeless and contemporary, adopting a whimsical approach that sparks dialogues about dimension, weight, physique, and the uncanny.

Through varied artworks that juxtapose morphological and architectural elements, the alternative depiction of shape subverts dualistic representations. The blended sculptures (featuring stereotypical definitions such as V, 8, or X for women and H, O, or A for men) present exaggerated, multi-dimensional silhouettes that exist where figuration and abstraction intersect, installed on pedestals with stage backdrops, encouraging individual interpretation. The interplay of light, shadow, and texture within these pieces—ranging from muted earthy tones to vibrant acrylic hues—emphasizes the fluidity of the body, while hybridized parts such as shoulders, busts, legs, toes, and hands defy conventional ideals. Transparent, smooth renders and flowing lines further reflect the artificiality of beauty constructs, exposing a dynamic connection between each figure and its surroundings.

"ANONYMOUS MORPHOLOGIES" rethinks our perception of the built environment, inviting reflection on the relationship among structure and function, presence and absence, and the spaces within and around us. This transformative series uses the symbolic language of morphology to explore new possibilities for liberation from media-driven biases and preconceptions. By challenging labels of appearance, Rad Hourani’s oeuvre celebrates the multidimensionality of physicality and promotes a broader understanding of individuality.

© RAD HOURANI

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