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Louisville, Ky. (WHAS11) - Hers has been a life of two worlds coming together on canvas; her life in Louisville and her life in Iraq.
This artist has seen war and murder, so how is her story part of our Positively Kentuckiana?
As WHAS11's Rachel Platt found out, it's all about hope.
Every picture tells a story and there are so many stories being told by artist Vian Sora.
She is an Iraqi artist who now calls Louisville home.
Her life then and her life now come together on canvas.
One painting called ‘Between Two Worlds’ is the featured piece in an upcoming exhibition.
It is something of a self portrait; her inner and outer world with roots in both places, a blending of east and west.
She married a Louisville attorney who worked with Iraqi artists. It is a marriage that would once again blend two worlds.
“I don't want to leave my identity…I talk English here but Arabic to my family,” she says.
It is a family that's endured torture and murder.
She showed WHAS11’s Rachel Platt articles and pictures of her uncle, the Deputy Health Minister who was kidnapped in 2006 and later murdered for exposing wrongdoing.
The work simply entitled ‘Kidnapped’ was inspired by him.
“Man with dagger represents the 16 men who attacked,” says Sora.
The painting pays homage to a man she loved and respected; a dark time and a dark painting.
But despite the ravages of war, her paintings also reflect beauty both in Iraq and Louisville.
Later this month you'll be able to see this artwork for yourself.
Vian's paintings have been shown throughout the world but this will be the first time in Kentuckiana.
It’s a new life in a new place with her artwork providing a bridge to her past.
“When you survive every day, life becomes more meaningful and beautiful and you enjoy the small things,” she says.
Vian Sora an artist who has seen the dark but prefers to paint hope.
“This is my way to contribute to beauty and color,” she says.
If you would like to see ‘Between Two Worlds,’ her work will be on display from April 2nd until May 14th.
The exhibit is at the Green Building at 731 east Market Street.
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