Remarkable Women project by Armelle Falliex: #2 Malala Yousafzai

 

Malala Yousafzai shown as #2 of Remarkable Women series is the 17 years old Pakistani who became known to the public in early 2009, at age 11, by publishing a blog on the BBC Urdu “Diary of a Pakistani schoolgirl”. She was denouncing the violence of the Taliban who burnt down schools for girls and murdered their opponents. On October 9, 2012 she was the victim of an assassination attempt by the Taliban while she was on the bus to her school. Seriously wounded in the neck and head she’s been into different hospitals of Pakistan before being transferred to Birmingham Hospital in the UK until January 3, 2013 and then continued her recovery at home.
After being rewarded repeatedly for her commitment to the Right to Education for girls, Malala has been honored by receiving the Nobel Peace Prize, October 10th, 2014 .
Malala has become the international symbol of the struggle for the Right to Education. This painting is to pays tribute to his extraordinary bravery.
Armelle Falliex, Los Angeles, February 7th, 2015

 

 

About the painting itself by Beatrice Chassepot:

The way Armelle Falliex has built the image is critical and summarizes all together the ups and downs of that brave young girl:

• First layer is made with pages of writings of her books “I Am Malala: The Girl Who Stood Up for Education and Was Shot by the Taliban”
• Second layer is Malala’s face. She shows strength and fragility because she is painted in black color and her face and eyes are slanted.
• Third layer is made with the blood, her blood flowing on the canvas. Of course it refers to her assassination attempt
• Fourth and last is the “peace & love” sign. It is large because it prevails but it is also a bit maladroit because that goal is still full of uncertainty.
  BCH, Los Angeles, February 10th, 2015