What inspired you to pursue art? How long have you been creating art?

I’ve been fortunate to have my parent’s support from childhood to pursue art. So in that sense, I have been expressing myself creatively for as long as I can remember. Over the years I have experimented with different visual mediums and am grateful for all the experiences that continuously help me grow as an artist. 

How would you describe your art? What messages do you hope to convey through them?

I would say my art is very emotive and raw. Oftentimes it’s very therapeutic to work through thoughts and feelings by painting and as such, to explore themes of identity and self. Our traditional and cultural ways of life as Maldivians and how it’s evolving in the fast paced times is another such theme I find myself drawn to along with nature and our environment which is a huge inspiration to me. 

My art has evolved over the years and it ranges from very detailed line work to abstract compositions but always with bright colours and graphic style. 

In your opinion, how can art related activities elevate guest  experiences in the tourism industry?

In my time as the resident artist in Kandima, I’ve had many beautiful experiences with guests where I helped them paint in art classes. While not all guests who joined came of their own accord, granted that their family or partner wanted to paint together, everyone left smiling. Not only are they happy with making something of their own to take home as a souvenir or to even hang up in their home, the quality time getting in touch with their own creativity and good conversations makes a difference, especially in Maldives where the natural beauty is the main selling point for resorts. 

What are your favourite mediums to use and why? 

Digital medium for most client works with the ease of changes it affords. I tend to work with acrylics more often due to their drying time however I now love using mix media for paintings to also explore textures. 

How do you handle creative blocks? Can you tell us some of the things you do to maintain your productivity? 

It’s definitely a struggle to get over periods of time where it’s been difficult to create. Waiting for the right inspiration might not work well given that one’s skill is also dependent on muscle memory which needs to be constantly practiced. With that in mind I try to get back into sketching and doodling whenever I can. 

Who are some of your favourite artists and how have they influenced your work?

There are many local artists whose work I’ve admired and influenced my own. Afumeeha, Mamdhuh, Araaka, Toxicrew, Gulsampa, Huda, KethiStudio and Iman Rasheed to name a few. I like to observe and take note of how another artist has expressed a certain emotion or detail in even just colours and  learn what I love about it and use that feeling when I paint or draw and see how it translates. 

What advice do you have for emerging artists? 

To keep making a lot of art and experimenting to explore different mediums and subject matter and not be confined to one. 

With social media and access to so many artists around the world, it’s sometimes overwhelming with the amount of content we have come to expect from artists to keep the hype. It’s sometimes daunting to even post and share something. However what matters is that you keep on creating and working on improving your art. 

How do you think local art can be blended into the tourism experience? What impact can it have on the overall guest experience?

I believe that the tourism sector has always been linked to art but it’s only in the recent years that more local artists are getting opportunities. It’s very important that art and artists are both regarded with the high value we can bring to the resorts as murals or paintings and even guest experiences as resident or guest artists. Not only can artists assist in the paintings but the real value is how we can connect as Maldivians to the guests who come to appreciate our country.