Created by Church Street community members and friends - Sally, Margaret, Maureen, Vitalia, Ellie, Marie, Najaat
Art, an expression of the soul, has the remarkable ability to transcend barriers, both physical and emotional. In the Church Street community, a local artist by the name of Najaat has harnessed the profound healing potential of art. Her journey, characterised by resilience and an unwavering commitment to creative self-expression, stands as a beacon of inspiration for all.
Chronic Health Challenges and the Pursuit of Art
Najaat is not your ordinary artist. She grapples with significant health challenges, making her artistic achievements all the more awe-inspiring. Suffering from fibromyalgia, a debilitating condition that robs her of sleep, and being blind in one eye due to severe myopia, Najaat faces a daily uphill battle. Medical experts predict a future of complete blindness, but Najaat has chosen to focus on what she can do rather than what she cannot. With a spirit undeterred, she dedicates her time to the creation of exquisite art, using the canvas as a medium to communicate her inner world to the outer one.
Biefriender Group exhibition at Holland Park School where Najaat has desplayed her work.
From Despair to Resurgence: Najaat's Remarkable Journey
Najaat's journey with art is a testament to its capacity to heal the deepest wounds of the mind. During a dark period in her life, marked by severe depression and familial tragedies, Najaat felt engulfed in a seemingly endless abyss of despair. Her sister's tragic suicide weighed heavily on her, and she describes these times as akin to being "in a black hole."
One day, a spark of realisation ignited within Najaat, compelling her to break free from the shackles of her anguish. She ventured out, procured art supplies, and embarked on a transformative journey. In 2003, Najaat embarked on her artistic voyage, utilising a variety of techniques, including mosaic, to bring her vision to life.
What is truly remarkable is that Najaat, a self-taught artist, never attended an art school. She had only three years of general schooling during her formative years, and English is her second language. For Najaat, art transcends mere language; it is the dialect of her soul.
Najaat's story serves as a profound reminder of the transcendent power of art. Her tenacity in the face of adversity, coupled with her artistic prowess, has not only granted her personal solace and healing but has also inspired the entire Church Street community. Najaat's art is a testament to the fact that, even when the body falters, the human spirit can soar through the realm of creativity, transforming adversity into vibrant expressions of the soul.
In a unique and captivating twist to the interview process, Najaat, our featured artist, doesn't respond with words; instead, she communicates her answers through the visual language of her artwork. Each question posed by the community members is met with a canvas of colors, strokes, and shapes, revealing the profound insights and emotions that lie within her art.
Join us as we embark on an extraordinary journey, delving into Najaat's world, where questions find their answers in the vibrant tapestry of her creations.
Church Street Community: Who is Naj?
Najaat:
Acrylic on canvas. Najaat chose this piece to represent herself. She describes this piece as "all her life" on a canvas. Najaat sees herself as a spec in the middle of this art piece with all that beautiful explosion of colours representing things that happen to her in her life.
Church Street Community: What is love?
Najaat:
Acrylic on canvas. Mixed acrylic colours thrown at the canvas to create this abstract peace.
Church Street Community: What is happiness to you?
Najaat:
Landscape painting, acrylic on canvas. This painting reminds Najaat of her childhood.
Church Street Community: How would you describe friendship?
Najaat:
Painting on glass. Najaat created this artwork in two days.
Church Street Community: You are now feeling relaxed. Which piece of your art comes to mind?
Najaat:
Paint on glass. When Najaat feels relaxed she always thinks of love.
Church Street Community: What are your Sundays like?
Najaat:
Paint on glass. Najaat often feels lonely. She has many plants in her house to keep her company. And when the weather is nice she likes to spend time in nature watching the trees and smelling the flowers. Nature is her friend.
Church Street Community: Which of your mosaics that you have created expresses your inner child?
Najaat:
Mosaic on board. Najaat describes her childhood living near a beach. When Najaat was a child she spent much of her time playing in the sea chasing fish. When she faced a problem she would escape to the sea shore that was her safe space where she felt at peace.
Church Street Community: What does your homeland mean to you?
Najaat:
Paint on glass. Homeland reminds Najaat of her mum. Najaat explained that since her mother passed away in 2021, she tries to no longer think of her homeland.
Church Street Community: Which colours remind you of your homeland?
Najaat:
Paint on glass. Naj chose this picture to represent her desire to escape from problems - as a positive solution. She explains that, "You may not know where you will go, but take on the challenge and run, leaving disasters behind - that's the best way to save your life. Keep going forward".
Church Street Community: What does Church Street mean to you?
Najaat:
Mosaic on board. This artwork represents 'friendship', and 'togetherness', which is what Najaat finds within Church Street community. Najaat says she found love and friendship on Church Street and met very good people.
Church Street Community: If a new building on Church Street was decorated with one piece of your art, which piece would you choose?
Najaat:
Mosaic on board. The bright colours represent happiness and peace.
Church Street Community: Many of us are facing challenges. What one piece of your art would you share with us to inspire us to have a better day?
Najaat:
Mosaic on board. Najaat says, feed a pigeon outside, and you will feel better.
Church Street Community: Is there an art piece that you wouldn't sell or give away?
Najaat:
Mosaic on board. This piece of artwork has a very special meaning to Najaat. It took Najaat almost one month in hours to create it. When Najaat was young she had a picture on her wall of a tiger that she kept looking at. She challenged herself to recreate it - this was not only an artistic challenge that Najaat pushed herself through but also an emotional one.
Church Street Community: We are now in the year 2322. Many things have changed over the last 300 years. You are importal. What do you feel? What do you think the future holds for us.
Najaat:
Mosaic on board. Najaat jokingly says, "In 300 years there will be no humans, only animals left, that's it".
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