Imani Bilal and `The Beauty of Enough'

Imani Bilal’s exhibit “The Beauty of Enough” centers on overwork and overgiving that lead to self-betrayal and compromised selfhood. The works reflect a “quiet expectation” of giving until exhaustion, when people may no longer recognize themselves. Nine paintings, ranging from 12 inches to 6 feet tall, present Bilal’s personal story alongside the stories of others. The paintings are described as holding traces of what people carry, protect, withhold, and preserve, offering a visual language for self discovery. Bilal is a self-taught artist who chose not to pursue a regular job after early work experience and has focused on creating and connecting through art.

"“It challenges this ... I call it the quiet expectation of giving to the point of exhaustion-you know what I mean? To the point where you sometimes don't recognize yourself ... or your selfhood is compromised,” Bilal added. “And so the paintings, they kind of became my way of telling those stories, my story and the stories of others.”"

"“I was telling a lady at the show (opening night) that they hold traces of the things that we carry, the things that we protect, withhold, preserve and that they offer a visual language for self discovery,” Bilal said."

"“Overwork, overgiving ... self betrayal and not keeping enough to yourself, for yourself,” is how Imani Bilal describes a recurring theme in her life and the often obstinate muse for her latest art exhibit, “The Beauty of Enough.”"

"A self-taught artist, Bilal decided at age 17, that she didn't want to “work a regular job,” after a perfunctory food service job experience at the Columbia Mall in Maryland (Bilal is a Harlem native who moved to Maryland with her family at age 10). She has never worked a so-called regular job since."

Read at AFRO American Newspapers