A printmaker's personal journey
From Lahore to London - a printmaker's personal journey
Taken from Commonwealth People March 2006 issue
Fatima Saeed from Pakistan is one of 11 winners of the Commonwealth Arts and Crafts Awards chosen in 2005 who are undertaking a residency in another Commonwealth country in 2006.
Noticing her aptitude for art, her father enrolled her at a drawing academy and encouraged her talent. Now 26, Ms Saeed works as a lecturer in her field of printmaking and is a successful independent artist. Here she tells Commonwealth People about how her art is a hugely personal journey and how winning this award has changed her life.
How did you hear about the Commonwealth Arts and Crafts Awards?
Initially I was told about the award by the National College of Arts. I researched it online and then my father thought my eldest brother should apply. But because he was studying and as I had finished my studies, we decided I should apply.
Tell us about your entry.
The kind of work that I do is very personal; I work with memories, photographs, portraits and self-portraits, including memories of my mother who died not long ago of cancer. Watching her die and realising the responsibility I had to face afterwards was a huge thing to accept. And then I realised that I am an artist and I should be using my emotions in my work, channelling my feelings through my art. It is the best therapy and it produces the best work; it also creates a living memory of things that are close to my heart.
How has winning this competition changed your life?
It has had an effect in lots of ways. Firstly, I had never been to the UK. In my application I wrote down Mozambique and Jamaica for where I wanted to go, as well as the UK. I nearly didn't list the UK as I thought about all the other countries in the Commonwealth I could visit, and I also thought that most of the other award winners would include the UK. In the end, my husband persuaded me to put it as one of my three choices.
Has your choice of destination, and have your experiences since you've been in London, helped in your creativity?
Yes, hugely. Since my arrival I have visited so many galleries and seen so many inspiring things that it will be hard to leave. I feel truly privileged to see the art and culture of another country. The Victoria and Albert Museum has to be my favourite, but every museum and every gallery has been an excellent experience. It has really inspired me. I love the way they write about the work and the journey of each piece of work. It's really great to see an image and read about it and what an artist was thinking about when he or she started the piece.
What do you hope to gain from winning this competition?
This experience is a gain in itself; and working independently and being away from home for the first time is for me a big experience and how it lends itself to my art is really something that I have gained. I feel privileged that I have the support of my family and my husband because often, being a woman in Pakistan, career is very much a secondary dream.
How did being a woman affect your decision to apply for the award?
I think that a lot of educated women from countries like mine have to give up their careers when they get married. Just the fact that I am able to complete my studies is a huge milestone. Even my mother who was a teacher before she got married became a housewife for the rest of her life. The support of my family definitely affected my decision to apply for the award; if they were against it, it would have been a different matter. To be here in London is a huge responsibility for who I represent.
What does this prize mean to people living in the Commonwealth?
I went to meet someone who had received this award years ago, who said it was great to be part of this programme as it offers the opportunity to be yourself and work in a way that is true to your beliefs. It means that you don't have to balance being a wife or a daughter on top of a passion for art. It takes you outside of your life and gives you the maximum opportunity to better yourself.
How important is the role of culture in the Commonwealth?
It's incredibly important. Understanding of culture and religion makes for tolerance. It helps people keep their identity, and also knowing about another culture increases your knowledge and acceptance. This award contributes towards creating understanding within the Commonwealth.
