Shameela Yoosuf Ali
The word ‘Art’ covers a broader spectrum of various creative endeavours. It ranges from Painting, Poetry and Music to Drama, Sewing and sculpting. I think painting is a unique language you use to communicate with others. It expresses the idea or the imagination of a person to others without words. Art nourishes the soul providing gratification through all five senses.
I can smell the crayons and paper when I recall my childhood days. My mother had excelled in Arabic calligraphy. My father was an extremely creative person too. Growing up, my sisters and I developed a genuine passion for drawing and painting.
As the years went by, my interests shifted. After school, I could not continue painting. Instead, I was drawn towards poetry and literature.
At the same time, I was actively involved and volunteering in Youth Empowerment and community development in a non-profit organisation. I was also into writing, translating teaching and training too.
In 2014, After moving to the UK from Sri Lanka, I suddenly found myself uprooted from my native soil. It was December, and winter I ended up in a country where I had a minimal connection. The climate was cold most of the time, unlike in Sri Lanka. I loved England and new experiences. But after the initial honeymoon phase, I found myself disconnected. I joined an art society, where we would sit and paint every Saturday, in the custard factory, Birmingham. ‘Painting for pleasure’ is what we called it. We had plenty of painting supplies available free of charge. Our cheerful mentor Peter Tinkler encouraged us to push our boundaries and experiment with different techniques. That was my door to a new voyage.
“I don’t think art is elite or mysterious. I don’t think anybody can separate art from politics. The intention to separate art from politics is itself a very, political intention.”
– Ai Weiwei (1957-), Chinese artist.
I started to use art as a medium to articulate my thoughts, narrate my life in England detached from the community and the country I grew up, and to explore my identity. Art is very political, and it is used as an instrument to portray extreme forms of poverty, violence against women, injustice, dehumanising etc. I feel art need not necessarily be offering answers, but they should be questioning the world. In addition to documenting injustice and building community, art can help create new political paradigms, solutions, and priorities. Art can seed political alternatives.
In a nutshell, it is an attempt to tell alternative micro-narratives of my community against the dominant grand narrative.
“Art is a source of calm in a chaotic world. Though I am often in the depths of misery, there is still calmness, pure harmony and music inside me. I see paintings or drawings in the poorest cottages, in the dirtiest corners.”
-Vincent Van Gogh
The Healing Power of Art is undeniable.
When COVID-19 pandemic struck and the days dark and long with uncertainty and gloom, my refuge was painting. I painted tranquil lakes and scenic mountains, though, within myself, I was overwhelmed. Painting is my zen as it allows me to find power and peace within myself amidst distress and uneasiness.
Thus, I have embraced art as my authentic voice, source of solace and armour of power.
