Q and A with Lina Husseini (510 words 3 min.read )
1. Your sculptures feel deeply emotional. What does sculpting awaken in you, and when do you feel a piece starts to “speak” back?
My sculptures reflect my mood, emotions, or personal experiences. The creative process is a form of therapy that helps me give shape to thoughts and feelings I either can’t or don’t want to express verbally. In those moments, time feels suspended, sculpting brings me both joy and peace. I often visualize the piece in my head without sketching. When I start working, the result is rarely satisfying at first; it requires constant adjustment. The process only ends when I feel that the forms, curves, and movement are in harmony and align with my inner state. The smallest detail can make all the difference, turning the sculpture from rough to elegant.
2. What drew you to PVC, a material so industrial and synthetic, to be turned into something so emotionally human and expressive?
I get asked this question a lot, it seems to spark curiosity. My husband works in the field and knows PVC inside out. It was a great opportunity for me to learn and master the material. After experimenting with papier-mâché, wood, clay, and metal, it was both a challenge and a joy to create art from such a purely industrial material. This unconventional approach, using a non-traditional medium in a world dominated by classical materials, breaks the mold. I hope my sculptures stir something emotional in those who see them.
3. Do you see PVC as a symbol of the modern female experience: strong, yet shaped by pressure?
PVC is a recent and forward-thinking material in the world of sculpture. It is strong and shaped by pressure, yet I manage to render it fluid and light. People often have preconceived notions about it, but for me, it’s a medium that has allowed the creation of complex, unique works. The modern woman is strong. She too is under pressure, facing judgment, taboos, and inequality. And yet, she finds the strength to break free, to carry bold ideas and a liberated mindset.
4. Can you share with us a personal story that inspired you to turn inanimate objects into expressive art?
I have always loved transforming everyday objects and utensils into figurative sculptures. One day, while walking through the factory, a twisted piece of PVC caught my eye. I instinctively put two parts together, and that was the beginning of my journey with this material.
5. Why do you express your thoughts in abstraction lately, like in flowing shapes? In other words, what does it allow you to say that realism cannot?
Realism imposes a clear message; it leaves little room for imagination. Abstraction, on the other hand, sets no limits. It invites daydreaming and opens space for multiple interpretations, depending on our environment, background, education, or emotional state. I also love witnessing how viewers interact with my sculptures. This dialogue between the artwork and the audience adds a new, unpredictable dimension that keeps the piece alive.
