Today we’d like to introduce you to Shaheen Rahman.
Hi Shaheen, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
I am a South Asian-American artist based in Houston, TX. Originally educated in plant biology, I stumbled upon watercolors much later in life. I developed a real fondness for this medium and started painting botanicals and plants. It became a wonderful way to combine my two passions, plant life and watercolors.
Then I had an opportunity to visit the Mosque-Cathedral of Cordoba, The Alhambra, in Granada, and the Royal Alcazar in Seville, Spain. These were truly art inspiring moments and a turning point for the direction of my artwork. I was interested in capturing the beautiful Islamic arts I had seen in these places, using watercolors.
Fortuitously again, some months later, I discovered and fell in love with the Islamic art of ebru* (Turkish paper-marbling)-an art form that emerged from the ancient Silk Road trade routes across Asia. Following my visit to the Iberian peninsula, the next European visit to Istanbul (crossroads of East and West) became the height of my art-inspiring journeys. Here, I not only got to meet the world-renowned ebru artist, Hikmet Barutcugil, in his own Istanbul home-based studio, but I also got to experience this art form in a setting overlooking the beautiful Bosphorus sea while creating beautiful marbled papers. Such experiences have led to my art practice being a celebration of my spiritual and cultural traditions through the medium of ebru. I was very excited to learn that In 2014, the art of ebru was declared by UNESCO as an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.
My art journey led me to Islamic Arts Society (IAS)- a non-profit organization that celebrates the rich heritage of Islamic Arts while utilizing it to counter Islamophobia and negative stereotypes of Muslim culture and peoples. Comprised of local artists, IAS arranges public engaging art events (annual arts festival, displays, and lectures) on Islamic art. Through the platform of IAS, my art practice has become centered on expressing my Muslim traditions as I educate the broader community on ebru and its significance in Islamic arts and culture. As an Asian American Muslim, living in a geopolitical world where Islam is often misrepresented and thus misunderstood, I quickly saw the value in the work of this organization. By presenting Islamic art within contexts, I am helping explain the correct and sometimes nuanced understandings of Islamic culture and dismantling stereotypes.
I joined IAS as an artist and a volunteer before being invited to serve on its Board of Directors. Now, as President of the Islamic Arts Society, I continue to believe strongly in the ability of the arts to bring people together and to reach the many communities and cultures in Houston and beyond. In 2019, I was appointed by then Houston Mayor, Sylvester Turner, to the Houston Arts Alliance Board of Directors to help manage and enhance Houston’s community involvement in the city’s Arts and Culture programs.
I am eager to continue evolving as an artist and cultivating mutual respect and understanding with the broader community through the lens of the arts.
For further information, I invite you to visit my blog http://studioartbyshaheen/blog
*ebru involves sprinkling pigments on the surface of water. With styli and specialized combs intricate and swirling patterns can be produced. Paper is placed on the surface of water to transfer the painting onto paper.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
As an artist and an art advocate, I try to help create a supportive environment where the arts can thrive. It’s not just about supporting individual artists, but also about making sure that art has a central place in society. These arts contribute to our cultural identity and foster emotional connections,
While there’s growing recognition of the importance of diverse perspectives in art, there are still significant barriers faced by underrepresented groups. These barriers include access to resources, funding, and visibility.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.studioartbyshaheen.com
- Other: https://open.spotify.com/show/3Bg6EcKeXFuxRtIsWbKR64
