Her tryst with the canvas and the brush has been unique. She started her journey into the endless world of colours and shades first through circumstances and then continued to explore her ownself and find out where her real passion and satisfaction lay. Contemporary artist Seema Baqi shares with BTW her story.
Tell us briefly about yourself: where you were born and raised, your educational background, etc.
I was born and raised in Muharraq Bahrain, and studied Business Administration. Then I went on to working at Standard Chartered Bank and further to that, at Coca-Cola as an accountant.
Were you initiated into arts and painting during your childhood?
Since childhood I always considered myself slightly gifted when it came to fine arts and painting. So I pursued many projects both in and out of school, and eventually it became a hobby and a passion. However, as time went by and as I started working, I found myself buried in responsibilities and it became very difficult for me to find the time to pursue my hobby. I was snowed in by household and professional duties and thus lost touch with my passion for many years until retirement. After retirement, I reconnected with a hobby that I had almost forgotten about, and that was the start of it all.
Tell us briefly about the kind of arts that you pursue. Who has been your inspiration?
My style of art borders between semi-abstract and Cubism. The themes I choose come very naturally to me, depending on what is inspiring me throughout that period. Therefore, I can say that there is no certain theme my paintings stick to, it is rather limitless. It is mostly an ‘in-the-moment’ expression of emotion.
The main person who inspired me to reconnect with my hobby many years ago was actually my daughter. She was in high school at the time and was doing a course in GCSE Fine Art. Many days she was overwhelmed by the amount of pages she had to hand in and asked for my help as she knew that I had once shared the same interest.
Helping her with her artwork reminded me of the therapeutic affect art has. The calmness and serenity it brings. Instantly I was inspired to take it up again.
Tell us about the significance of art in your life.
Art and painting plays an enormous role in my life, perhaps even bigger than I think. After being an artist for many years, I began to see art in everything and not just on a canvas, but rather in anything that offers some kind of aesthetic beauty.
It can be in clothing, in structures, in nature— anywhere the mind can take it. Sometimes while I am working on something that is unrelated to art I still envision things that I am able to put on a canvas. The inspiration is all around me and that train of thought is what makes it extremely significant to me.
What have been the major challenges in your path so far?
Luckily, Bahrain has an appreciative underground art scene and many people here admire local artwork.However, my largest challenge thus far has been to expand and gain international recognition. I aspire to have the opportunity to exhibit more on an international basis and be recognised by other countries.
Do you feel that a formal training is essential to pursue arts?
Personally I believe that art is a talent and a gift rather than a skill. I do believe it in taking formal training for improvements and to learn certain techniques to further yourself in your field, however I do not believe it is essential in order to pursue art to begin with.
Tell us about the art classes that you offer.
This coming September, my art classes will begin. Hopefully I will be teaching both adults and children, separately of course. The aim of the classes is to enrich aspiring and practicing artists to learn new techniques, how to match colours and how to connect with their passion and reflect that on to a canvas.
What kind of help and support do you seek to help reach your goal?
I am very grateful and thankful to my family and friends, they have been nothing but supportive with my hobby and at this point I am so enriched with help and support that I no longer seek it. The only thing I ask is for them to continue what they are doing as that is what has gotten me here today and will continue to get me further in the future.
Have you participated/held exhibitions in Bahrain or in any other place? Give us a list of the last few.
Here is a list of a few:
- 2011 Participated in 1st Bahraini Female Artist Annual Exhibition.
- 2011: Participated in 1st Bahraini Female Artists Annual Exhibition under the title “A woman’s story”
- 2012: Participated in 2nd Bahraini Female Artists Annual Exhibition under the title “Pretty Fearless Minds”
- 2014: participated in 3rd Bahraini Female Artist Annual Exhibition under the
- 2015 Participated in Art Exhibition for five Artist in Bahrain
- 2016 My painting has been selected to for a logo for Raft Race ( Rotary Bahrain)
- 2016 Participated in Gulf Art Exhibition in Bahrain
- 2016 Participated in Symposium in Kusadasi, Turkeyy – Invited by the Turkish Ministry of Culture.
What is your message to aspiring artists?
My main message to aspiring artists is ‘the more you work and enjoy that work, the more you will feel the reward! So keep doing what you are doing, and you will do great things!’