This British Muslim digital artist blends styles and mediums as an extension of his own multicultural upbringing. He will be gracing this year’s MOCAfest, part of the World Islamic Economic Forum, held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia from November 3–5, 2015.
“Iqra” by Teakster
UK-born and -bred digital artist Hatiq Mohamed, better known as Teakster, is greatly inspired by concepts of beauty in Islamic art and calligraphy. His work, a blend of photography, design and calligraphy, has been featured in exhibitions around the world. In 2014 he received the Alhambra Award for Excellence in Arts, which recognises the best of Muslim contributions to British society.
Teakster is currently working on several projects: one with the British Museum on a new exhibition about young Muslim artists, and a second with Eric Broug, a master in the art of geometry, on a limited-edition piece to be exhibited in Sharjah, UAE. At the same time, he is collaborating with a few other designers on home decor products, a print-based clothing range and art prints.
Aquila Style: You don’t shy away from using colours in your work. Tell us more about your personal creative process, from inspiration to final work.
Teakster: Before starting any piece of artwork, I sit on the highest, coldest mountain wearing nothing but my underwear and I spend several hours meditating. This helps me to get my creative juices really flowing.
All right – to be honest I don’t that, but a few things help me to make great work. However, plenty of luck helps me out a lot.
I haven’t had any formal training as I am great believer in ‘learn-by-doing’. I understand why some people pay to learn about basic techniques, but artistic flair cannot be learnt. It takes hours of practice. Only a lucky few are naturally talented; the rest of us need to put a lot of time and effort into improving our skills.
Each piece of artwork takes weeks or months of thought and planning. I want to improve my skill as an artist so I like to play with different styles. I think we are all born with creativity but we need to learn to display our artistic ability.
The best work I’ve produced is when I don’t think about it. I let the artistic flow take over and let the art grow organically. I have a rough idea of what I want to produce, but sometimes when I finish the result is not what I expected.
MOCAfest is all about bringing together artists from different backgrounds. You’ve collaborated with other visual artists. What about creatives from other disciplines? What value do you see in this process?
Some of my most enjoyable assignments have been collaborations with other artists to create stunning original pieces of art. I have been privileged to work with renowned artists such as Haji Noor Deen, eL Seed, Peter Sanders and Ian Abdullateef Whiteman, as well as a whole new generation of emerging artists.
I believe that working alongside other artists can help develop the growing movement in Islamic art. Islamic art covers a wide spectrum: from calligraphy to architecture. Even though each discipline is different, it is tied through the love of God and His religion. Regardless of the discipline, working with other artists helps to boost your creativity as it forces you to work outside your comfort zone. The results can be mindblowing.
You’ve attended MOCAfest before. What success stories have you seen, and what do you hope to gain from the festival?
MOCAfest is one of the few festivals that encourages artists from different disciplines to collaborate together to create a unique sensory experience for the audience. The festival offers discussions and interactive workshops to equip aspiring artists with the business skills they will need to launch a successful career in the creative industries. It also provides artists an effective environment for building links and establishing invaluable contacts. Through MOCAfest, I have received numerous requests for commissions.
While there are indeed many arts events and festivals, I don’t think there will ever be an arts festival as good as this one. I am not saying it is impossible, but it might take a long time.
What are your plans after the festival?
Malaysia is one of the countries that I have always wanted to visit. I really love Malaysian food, so you will probably find me in one of the many restaurants. If I am not getting fat, I also want to visit some of its heritage sites. Hopefully these will provide inspiration for my future work.
How has your cultural upbringing affected your involvement in art? How does your lived experiences contribute to the theme of this year’s festival, “Preservation of identity”?
As with most artists from ethnic backgrounds, I was discouraged from practising art by my parents, as it was seen as a waste of time. It was not until I was winning awards that I got the respect from my family. Before then, I was mostly doing it in secret.
My art is an extension of me. It is a fusion of traditional Islamic art with the British environment that I grew up in. These experiences allow me to experiment with different styles. I believe that my work can be a bridge between different cultures.
Want to know what Teakster is up to? Follow him on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram or see more of his work on his website
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