"Issues I have with society or comments I want to make, I’d use art as a medium to reflect that."
Recent graduate, Famina B is an inspiration to young people who love creativity. With her particular talent, she has made her debut into the art world with her unique vision and imagination.
A fine artist, Famina’s designs bear a significant resemblance to henna and ethnic Eastern designs. She offers her own spin on her colourful heritage and crafts outstanding patterns that attract your attention as they tell a story.
Famina has drawn and created countless artworks featuring a delicate and intricate maze of patterns. These, she tells us, involve layers and layers of hidden messages.
In an exclusive Gupshup with DESIblitz, Famina tells us: “I guess when the viewer looks at my work they find that they have to be really intimate with the work. You have to stop there and look at it for you to see what’s really happening.
“It’s not a one glance thing. It’s about meaning and you’ve got to really stand there and look at it and then things are revealed to you within the patterns. So there’s a different layer of engagement with the audience,” she explains.
Famina admits that at a young age she had held an affinity for patterns which helped encourage her to develop her own style:
“Things started with patterns, I was very young. I was into Henna. I’m fascinated by these ethnic diverse patterns,” Famina tells us.
Her first inspiration was from the patterned clothes she wore. Coming from a Kashmiri background, Famina was surrounded by henna designs and patterned clothes growing up:
“Everything’s patterned from my clothes to my tablecloth, to my carpet, the wallpaper and everything. I think subconsciously, it’s all there.”
This led her to adopt a similar style by drawing henna inspired patterns such as flowers, Paisleys, circles, leaves and shapes. Taking inspiration from what was around her, she began developing them further, and her art progressed from a hobby to a means of personal reflection for her:
“All my patterns started with a centre point… it’s just that idea that everything coming back to one thing and that we’re all connected in one way.”
Famina adds that her art has brought her closer faith and religion, and so uses her creativity and drawings to promote a positive image of Asian and Muslim women in society.
Her drawings depict both patterns and women together, all unified by one central point. In her designs, there are themes of western and eastern ideals drawn from her personal experiences and thoughts:
“Right now I’m working on a series of patterns. They seem to go on forever, they get complex and complex,” Famina says.
With a clash of cultures depicted in her work, Famina uses art to showcase funny stories of hijabi women on bikes in opposition to the stereotypical image of Muslim women portrayed in the media. As Famina explains in more detail:
“A lot of it is personal like it’s what I feel or the views that I have but I put them into pattern. I put it into creativity. I find that issues that I have with society or comments that I want to make, I’d use art as a medium to reflect that. I think it’s the best way to get communities to come together.”
All of Famina’s patterns are hand drawn as she prefers it that way. The types of art Famina uses are installation, sculpture and print. Through these mediums, she narrates a story to people to help them understand her point of view.
She hopes that her work will allow different communities and cultures to communicate more effectively with each other. While also using art to both raise awareness and express serious concerns that exist within local society.
Famina has enjoyed great success with her work so far. Making her debut solo exhibition at Birmingham’s Ort Gallery, Famina has begun to engage people from all backgrounds with her art.
The exhibition, entitled ‘Because You Can’ also saw Famina take part in workshops with the public at Ort. Here, she was able to encourage a positive dialogue about ethnic women in society.
It is clear that Famina’s talents are building bridges in the community. By dispelling mistruths about her own faith and culture, Famina is promoting her own unique perception of British Asian identity for others to see.
We hope she will continue to use her art and creativity in a commendable way, by celebrating diversity and encouraging more people to come together.
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