How social media pushed me into having an art exhibition – Hafsat Sani Sami

Hafsat Sani Sami is a 27-year-old graduate of Business Management from Coventry University and a student of Interior Architecture in San Francisco at the Academy of the Art University. She recently released her debut book, ‘Imagining a Beautiful Life’ and held an exhibition showcasing her works at the Thought Pyramid, in Abuja. In this interview, […]

Hafsat Sani Sami is a 27-year-old graduate of Business Management from Coventry University and a student of Interior Architecture in San Francisco at the Academy of the Art University. She recently released her debut book, ‘Imagining a Beautiful Life’ and held an exhibition showcasing her works at the Thought Pyramid, in Abuja. In this interview, she walks us through her artistic career, and more.

 

Daily Trust: How did you become an artist?

Hafsat Sani Sami: You know how as children, they ask you what you want to be when you grow up? Well apparently, that was the first thing I used to tell people, that I was going to be an artist. So growing up during my early years, my parents exposed me to a lot of creative things. They would always buy me books to teach me all these different things. So I always had all these crafts at hand. Even in my primary school, Kaduna International School, we were exposed to creative things. So I grew up in a very creative environment. But as you get older, people tell you it’s not realistic being an artist. So I left it at the back burner, but it’s something I always came back to throughout the years. This all started with my NYSC allowance, using it to buy my canvases, paint, and brushes since I couldn’t ask anyone for money because of how people felt about it.

After I moved back to Nigeria, I started working with my mum at her furniture manufacturing company as an interior architect in Kaduna. So I met with people who needed an interior designer or had an eye for architectural art. I worked there for about a year and half before I decided that I just needed to be more creative. Even through the work there was good because when the furniture was being made, they let me be creative like painting on the furniture or the throw pillows. But I decided to leave to pursue the arts. So I started painting about two years ago in 2016 in my bedroom for about a year as a hobby. And with social media, I posted the works that I was doing and the attention it was receiving is what gave me the confidence to feel like I could pursue art as a profession.

DT: How would you describe your art in your own words?

Hafsat: I tell the stories of what I’ve been through that allowed me to become an artist. Like I said, it isn’t easy. People tell you that it’s unrealistic. But what I’ve come to realize is the struggle is not just being an artist, it’s just generally trying to achieve who we want to become.

DT: You use acrylic paint. Any reason behind that choice?

Hafsat: I actually use a lot of different mediums for my art but I started with acrylic paint. That’s was the foundation of me becoming an artist, and oils as well. But I found myself leaning towards acrylics because to me, the colours just seem more vibrant and it’s easier for me to work with. But I’ve also tried oil pastels, colour pencils, watercolours and basically anything that I can get my hands on. I also like digital art a lot which is very visible in the poetry book I put together.

DT: What do you think makes your at stand out?

Hafsat: I feel I’m very fearless in my art and I feel like as individuals, we’re very different to begin with. My art is very reflective of the person that I am on its own and no-one can express who I am better than myself.

DT: What’s the feeling you get when you see people’s reactions to your work?

Hafsat: It’s a surreal feeling. Even though I’ve wanted to be an artist my whole life, I didn’t think that people would receive it the way that they did. I never saw myself doing exhibitions. I was just painting for myself. I paint about things I’m going through, and things happening in my life. So when I see people relating with my paintings and the stories I’m telling, it makes me happy.

DT: In what ways do you think art can be more appreciated in Nigeria?

Hafsat: I feel like most Nigerians have their guard up. We don’t let people express themselves freely without judging. We’re very limited in the way we think and perceive things too. So I feel like if people are more open-minded and appreciative of it, it will go a long way.

DT: What are the challenges you face?

Hafsat: The biggest one I faced was how people would receive me. But it was more in my head than in reality. I was afraid that people wouldn’t like and appreciate it. But the thing is, no matter what you do, not everybody will like it. People come up to me and say they like my art but tell me how I can change it to fit what they want to see. People are very closed to receiving it and even if they are, they want to see it in a certain way.

DT: You’re wearing your self-made jewelry. How did you get into fashion?

Hafsat: I’ve just always been crafty. Even though these are things that I did as a kid, not thinking that I would even return to doing them, but once I started painting, I realised I was also creating these prints in the background that look a lot like the African prints we wear. So while painting, I fell in love with the idea of creating prints. So I sat down in my studio one day and I was like ‘I really don’t have enough money to buy a printing machine right now, so what can I do?’ So I remembered the tie-and-dye I learnt while I was a kid, and I started a mini textile business.

As for the jewelry, I really love accessories and when I go to buy, I was always wanted something that looked different or Afrocentric, but I never got exactly what I was looking for. I wanted more. So I just thought why not just make it myself? so I started with lapel pins, followed by the jewelry. They’re currently sold out. I started out with three designs this year, put them up on my page, and shops in Abuja showed interest, and bought them.

DT: What advice would you give other artists?

Hafsat: Be sure of yourself, find who you are, and identify the stories you’re trying to tell. Because art is more than just making something nice to look at. If you’re a creative, then you’ve found a medium to create something people can relate to emotionally. Every time you create something, you feel like you’re just painting or drawing or writing for yourself, but some people actually end up finding themselves in your work.