On Identity and Elegies: An Interview with Aisha Zakiya Islam
Aisha Zakiya Islam is a Saudi-born Bangladeshi multidisciplinary artist. She is a graduate from the University of Sharjah (2018), with a Bachelor’s degree in Fine Arts. She recently had the opportunity to showcase some of her work as a YSA’19 (Young Saudi Artist) at Athr gallery in Jeddah.
How does being a multidisciplinary artist enable you to explore different facets of your imagination?
As a multidisciplinary artist, the experimentation with different materials gives me endless opportunities to explore my ideas until my artwork meets the concept I am trying to portray with mental satisfaction. My last project started off with a concept and slowly developed into the exploration of several materials and processes until it got to where I wanted it to be. My inspiration can come from a material and develop into a body of work or start off as an idea and then the material hunt begins.
What media have you explored so far?
As a recent university graduate, being a student allowed me to investigate/experiment with numerous techniques and materials in order to create my installations, such as paper, metal brazing, henna, painting, and screen printing.
How do you incorporate your identity into your work? What aspects of it do you highlight?
My artworks generally touch on personal topics relating to my feelings and struggles. Usually, these personal experiences are highlighted using events in my life and cultural elements. For example, the last project I worked on was a tribute to my late mother. My artworks were conceived as a series of elegy for loss. An elegy is a poem of serious reflection, typically a mourning for the dead. A contemplation of an elegy for all that has been lost, an overarching story of acceptance after losing a loved one. My work consisted of 2 series one of which was screen prints on fabric (red, blue, purple, yellow and white), and henna on x-rays which was a reflection of my journey to acceptance.
How do you navigate the art scene as an independent creative?
Social media and the internet in general plays a big part in my creativity. Being able to see artworks of different artists from around the world and getting to interact with some helps with getting motivated and inspired, even though it has been a struggle to get in touch with local art communities and finding easy access equipped studios for artists. After graduating I got the chance to exhibit part of my work in two galleries, Al Maraya art center in Sharjah and Athr gallery in Jeddah. As an expatriate, being able to present my work in Saudi Arabia, being exposed to the local art scene, and getting the chance to meet other artists was a great opportunity for me. Usually such initiatives target locals so I’m very happy to have gotten the chance to exhibit my work, and I hope there will be more open calls and opportunities like this in the near future.
What work(s) are you currently working on?
Currently, I am continuing my henna on x-ray series but trying to replace the henna with other materials, like using powder colors and/or paint. I am also experimenting with other materials such as a collection of boarding passes and medicinal syringes in order to create another great body of work. Occasionally I do some experimental paintings or paint pours. I pretty much enjoy experimenting with easy access materials.
