article In conversation with
Fatima Mian
In conversation with
Fatima Mian
In conversation with Fatima Mian about
creative escapism and the cinematic
influences on her landscape photography.
creative escapism and the cinematic
influences on her landscape photography.
In conversation with Fatima Mian about
creative escapism and the cinematic
influences on her landscape photography.
Inspired by notions of storytelling, Fatima Mian intersects a variety of creative mediums including film, photography, painting, and graphic design. With careful consideration of light, colour, and tone, her lens creates alternate realities that offer viewers a passport to different times and places.
Artiq Can you share the biggest influences and inspirations behind your work?
Fatima Inspiration comes to me in many forms. My love for film and cinema, music, nature, personal experiences, and the emotions they generate collectively shape my artistic inspiration.
If I had to narrow down my biggest influences and inspirations behind my work to two things, I’d say nature and the movies.
Being in nature, in the mountains in particular, has always filled me with a sense of awe and wonder - I feel incredibly drawn to them, there’s an inexplicable connection there! I am often compelled to be still and capture what I can see and feel when I am in mountainous landscapes; that can be through photography, or in the form of an abstract landscapes that I may later paint.
I have always found great escapism in film and cinema. The visual aesthetics in films has always captivated me. A cinematic experience that offers a unique perspective or moves me, often ignites my creativity and is the driving force behind me trying to create my own alternate realities of places I’ve encountered.
Artiq In what ways has your background in graphic design informed your current art practice?
Fatima My background in graphic design informs my current practice in that it taught me how to visually communicate ideas. Through the strategic combination of images, colours, and layout techniques it allows me to create visual compositions comprised of aspects of my photographs and paintings, that hopefully result in artwork that evokes emotions effectively.
Fatima Inspiration comes to me in many forms. My love for film and cinema, music, nature, personal experiences, and the emotions they generate collectively shape my artistic inspiration.
If I had to narrow down my biggest influences and inspirations behind my work to two things, I’d say nature and the movies.
Being in nature, in the mountains in particular, has always filled me with a sense of awe and wonder - I feel incredibly drawn to them, there’s an inexplicable connection there! I am often compelled to be still and capture what I can see and feel when I am in mountainous landscapes; that can be through photography, or in the form of an abstract landscapes that I may later paint.
I have always found great escapism in film and cinema. The visual aesthetics in films has always captivated me. A cinematic experience that offers a unique perspective or moves me, often ignites my creativity and is the driving force behind me trying to create my own alternate realities of places I’ve encountered.
Artiq In what ways has your background in graphic design informed your current art practice?
Fatima My background in graphic design informs my current practice in that it taught me how to visually communicate ideas. Through the strategic combination of images, colours, and layout techniques it allows me to create visual compositions comprised of aspects of my photographs and paintings, that hopefully result in artwork that evokes emotions effectively.
Artiq You work between painting, photography and print. Can you discuss the crossover and differences between these ways of working? Do you find that one medium informs the other?
Fatima They are all interconnected; I discovered my passion for painting through my journey in photography, particularly through my exploration of landscape photography. While waiting to capture a photograph, I found myself delving deeper into the essence of the landscape. Gradually, these observations morphed into abstract interpretations, influencing my artistic vision, and inspiring my paintings.
Through a lot of creative experimentation with the two mediums and exploring ways I could tie them together, my artistic practice has evolved into a form of digital art which culminates in my abstract prints. This is where I zoom into specific elements of my photographs, exploring their shapes, colours, and textures, just as I would when composing a photograph. These close examinations serve as the foundation for new digital compositions, where I manipulate and play with the elements.
I then translate these observations into miniature paintings, again, focusing solely on individual shapes and colours within a small section of the photograph. The miniature artworks are then photographed and incorporated into my digital compositions - creating the Abstract Print.
Fatima They are all interconnected; I discovered my passion for painting through my journey in photography, particularly through my exploration of landscape photography. While waiting to capture a photograph, I found myself delving deeper into the essence of the landscape. Gradually, these observations morphed into abstract interpretations, influencing my artistic vision, and inspiring my paintings.
Through a lot of creative experimentation with the two mediums and exploring ways I could tie them together, my artistic practice has evolved into a form of digital art which culminates in my abstract prints. This is where I zoom into specific elements of my photographs, exploring their shapes, colours, and textures, just as I would when composing a photograph. These close examinations serve as the foundation for new digital compositions, where I manipulate and play with the elements.
I then translate these observations into miniature paintings, again, focusing solely on individual shapes and colours within a small section of the photograph. The miniature artworks are then photographed and incorporated into my digital compositions - creating the Abstract Print.
Artiq Can you discuss your process when creating abstract paintings? How do you decide upon the colour palette, textures and shapes within each work?
Fatima The shapes in my abstract paintings are informed by the source of inspiration - most of the time this comes back to mountains. In my landscape inspired abstract paintings, I look back at photographs of places I’ve visited and use this to inform the colours and shapes in the painting. But as I said, many things inspire me! For example, my latest series of abstract paintings, the Chicane Series, was inspired by Formula 1 racing. I love the curves and shapes that the circuits make, the marks that the tyres create as they drift around the corners, and the variety of colours of the cars.
I try to embody the principle of whatever is behind my inspiration. I tap into a calmer, more grounded version of myself when creating the landscape abstracts - the way that I am in nature. Whereas with the Chicane Series, the speed and finesse of a motor sports race informed the way in which I approached the work. If I can be so bold as to compare a race to my painting process - it required a combination of trusting my instincts and also carefully calculating my next move and what the potential result of it will be.
Artiq You mention that your photographic works aim to create alternate realities. Could you discuss your approach to crafting these moments? What do you hope that your audience feels from engaging with these pieces?
Fatima I try to capture photographs that evoke the essence of a cinematic scene. During my post-production process, I enjoy manipulating light and colour to imbue each image with a specific atmosphere or mood. This transformative process allows me to infuse the scene with a romanticised and idealised perspective, often transcending the reality of the moment.
Fatima The shapes in my abstract paintings are informed by the source of inspiration - most of the time this comes back to mountains. In my landscape inspired abstract paintings, I look back at photographs of places I’ve visited and use this to inform the colours and shapes in the painting. But as I said, many things inspire me! For example, my latest series of abstract paintings, the Chicane Series, was inspired by Formula 1 racing. I love the curves and shapes that the circuits make, the marks that the tyres create as they drift around the corners, and the variety of colours of the cars.
I try to embody the principle of whatever is behind my inspiration. I tap into a calmer, more grounded version of myself when creating the landscape abstracts - the way that I am in nature. Whereas with the Chicane Series, the speed and finesse of a motor sports race informed the way in which I approached the work. If I can be so bold as to compare a race to my painting process - it required a combination of trusting my instincts and also carefully calculating my next move and what the potential result of it will be.
Artiq You mention that your photographic works aim to create alternate realities. Could you discuss your approach to crafting these moments? What do you hope that your audience feels from engaging with these pieces?
Fatima I try to capture photographs that evoke the essence of a cinematic scene. During my post-production process, I enjoy manipulating light and colour to imbue each image with a specific atmosphere or mood. This transformative process allows me to infuse the scene with a romanticised and idealised perspective, often transcending the reality of the moment.
Artiq You were previously selected as a finalist for the Visual Artist Association Professional Artist Award, and were Longlisted for the Women United Art Prize. Could you share any upcoming projects or exhibitions that you're particularly excited about in 2024?
Fatima I’m currently experimenting with a new series of abstract prints based on my photograph Breakfast at the Beach. I’m looking forward to working with the turquoise and coral colour palette from the photo! I’m also looking back at some of my photographs from a trip to Pakistan that I will be creating a new collection of photographs of.
I will be exhibiting my work at the Under the Rainbow Spring Exhibition from the 6th of April to the 12th of May at the Blue Water Shopping Centre.
I am also very excited to be returning to the Urban Art Fair in Brixton for the third time on the 13th and 14th of July. Two years ago, it was my first ever experience of an art fair and exhibiting my work. I found it to be such a heartwarming and uplifting experience to engage with buyers in what was such a friendly and relaxed environment - and am really looking forward to meeting more art lovers again this year!
Fatima I’m currently experimenting with a new series of abstract prints based on my photograph Breakfast at the Beach. I’m looking forward to working with the turquoise and coral colour palette from the photo! I’m also looking back at some of my photographs from a trip to Pakistan that I will be creating a new collection of photographs of.
I will be exhibiting my work at the Under the Rainbow Spring Exhibition from the 6th of April to the 12th of May at the Blue Water Shopping Centre.
I am also very excited to be returning to the Urban Art Fair in Brixton for the third time on the 13th and 14th of July. Two years ago, it was my first ever experience of an art fair and exhibiting my work. I found it to be such a heartwarming and uplifting experience to engage with buyers in what was such a friendly and relaxed environment - and am really looking forward to meeting more art lovers again this year!