Aurora ; the wonderful light display of the sky in polar region. It may be explained by the scientific laws but in an aesthetic sense it’s a festival of the colours by nature, the moving wonder that wander around. Fathima Hakkim the girl who loves the colors, its tints and tones couldn’t resist naming her exhibition as ‘Aurora’. The young girl from Kollam and an architect by profession did an exhibition of her paintings which carried the spirit of her love towards paintings, and the fruit of her passion. Aurora was the secrets life of her’s in colours.
Fathima Hakkim was born on an orthodox Muslim family. She is a graduate in architecture and working as a professor in TKM College of Architecture ,Kollam. Her first exhibition was in Kozhikode Art Gallery and then another happened at Durbar hall Kochi. She always wanted to express her soul where society she lives considers it a sin. Mis understanding artist’s with drug user’s was one among that. It gave her a hard time convincing people. And when the words failed, she painted her life out . Canvases bloomed in. They hugged the walls and rejoiced. Aurora was a life changer for her and the people she inspired .
Here is an abstract of the talk with Fathima.
• You are born in a Muslim family and it is so orthodox in its beliefs. How did it affect your passion?
It affected positive. Every time i was pulled back, the fire inside grew brighter. Having no one from an artistic background in the family and no training in painting, i started developing new styles. With absolutely no idea of technicality , my water colour paintings looked like oil paintings. Time was another factor . With the architecture course happening over 5 years, my paintings sprouted at 3am’s and 4 am’s. Often called a rebel, i was advised to back out, as an artist do not fit in the “perfect girl” for the marriage criteria.
The society believes that being an artist is something not suitable for a “modest girl”. The fear of such is inflicted on us since early childhood. I too grew up that. Reasoning the society is hard. That is why i went for the exhibitions to show that passion and hard work does fruit beautifully.
• What is your experience about your first exhibition? How you feel after that?
Having done with 26 huge canvases, i packed my bags and started my journey to calicut. The task was that i had to set up the exhibition in 5 days , at a place where i have never been before. Having met kind and generous souls ranging from strangers to friends, natives to rickshaw walas, the paintings started kissing the walls. In a city 400kms away from my hometown, the exhibition was happening. The gallery filled with paintings, music and poems. The opening day when people started coming in, all i could do i try holding back the tears. The days were beautiful. The gallery crowded with hundreds of people every day from different walks and life and from different cities.
• What is the message you want to share through
When desperately searching of a message in every art, you miss to seize the moment. Aurora is a hometown of paintings, poetry, music and installations. Emotions from joy to pain, sadness and compassion, the fragility of our souls and over flow of emotions , all in a surrealistic theme . Life of mine is secretly embedded in each one them. Every frame is a story.Art is the one most powerful thing that unites people. There were people from many nationalities, different languages, attires. But when they flock inside a gallery, the paintings talk a universal language. Some break down, some cry, some laugh, some pass by. In the end, i was happy. Finally i felt i did some justice to my soul.
In which point you decided to do an exhibition?
The voices in our heads constantly demands things for our souls to rejoice but we refuse to listen sometimes. We loose our dreams calculating the practicality and probability. I knew i would regret if i dint do it. And i went for it .
• How the exhibition in Durbar hall happened?
It was not a planned one. I brought my paintings to Kochi to keep them safe. There was constant demand from the amazing crowd to host the exhibition again at another venue and kochi was at the top demands.so i thought, why not? 15 days after the calicut exhibition, i hosted the cochin one. Durbar hall is a beautiful gallery i always had my eyes on when i visited it 3 years ago. Then again it happened. Aurora was forming inside the gallery. I had been blessed with a group of people to any city i go. We all worked together and the second exhibition was a success.
• What you have to say to one who is inspired by you?
Do what you have to do. Listen close to your hear talking. Do it for you, for your soul. Spread kindness. In the end, the only legacy we would leave back is the love, smiles, kindness and the wisdom we achieved. Our souls are too beautiful to be wasted. Dream. Dream big. Be the change you wished upon others.
Original post : http://womaura.com/fathima-hakkim-girl-who-loved-colours-artist/