Pinocchio and the Seven Deadly Sins:

The Pinocchio and the Seven Deadly Sins series was an important step in Khuzami’s development as an artist. During a trip to Tuscany, she tried to paint the region’s landscapes, but found she was not inspired to paint their beauty, which made her feel guilty as an artist. Instead, she found inspiration in an unlikely place––the souvenir figurines of Pinocchio she’d bought in local tourist towns. The combination of Italy’s stark Catholic symbolism and the sensuality of the culture sparked an idea: Pinocchio tempted by sin. He’s the classic innocent, without a moral compass or a conscience, easily swayed into bad behavior. So, Khuzami subjected him to temptation: gluttony, lust, murder. From this point on, Khuzami’s love of objects would inspire much of her work.