Creating art for and of the world around him is the only way of being for artist and digital illustrator Muhammed Sajid. Unsure of what lay ahead for him, he stumbled upon art as a young boy, influenced and encouraged by his mother, which set him off on a grand creative adventure. From there, his journey has been unstoppable, as his distinctive style emerged with a vibrant fusion of colour and culture that makes an impact at the first sight.
For Sajid, art is the medium through which he communicates with the world, expressing thoughts and emotions that words may fail to convey. His detailed works leave much to be explored by the viewer, as every inch reveals a new intricacy. It’s easy to get lost in his creative world; each illustration screams a captivating story waiting to be deciphered.
We explore Sajid’s vivid world and works, where colour, culture, and creativity converge in a symphony of visual storytelling.
Tell us about your early years. How did art come to pique your interest?
I remember when I was in primary school, one of the big walls in front of my class had an A2-sized landscape drawing of a coconut tree with lots of greenery, and that was made by my mom. So, you can imagine where I get inspiration for my art from! If I'm not wrong, I started drawing in the third standard, guided by my mom.
I was studying biology science, and after school, I realised that it didn’t work for me. There was no one straight path into the art field for me. I was looking for something that I could put my interest in, and I ‘accidentally’ applied for a Bachelor of Fine Arts. That’s when I figured I had the right path.
Your work is vibrantly detailed. What is your creative process?
I love colours, so using colour and trying to find harmony in my work is not a singular process. I do practice a lot — I find that once you're into your work, you'll find a balance that pleases your aesthetic.
My processes are different according to my personal work and commissions. I refer to many platforms like Pinterest, books, and observe the things around me, etc., and then I start scribbling the visual that comes into my head. I start sketching out my piece before moving to draft colouring, which leads to the final artwork. In most instances, I start painting directly.
You have a series on the 'Folks From Kerala’. How did it come to be?
The FFK series is one of my best of all because this illustration series is about the living souls from Kerala. I was born and brought up in Kerala, a state in southern India. Kerala is a multicultural state where people from all ethnicities and religions live together in peace and harmony. I have come across several people from these cultures throughout my childhood. My project aims to illustrate these characters and bring their story to life. I have tried using a different colour palette and subtle variations in style for each piece. Why did I portray most of them? Because I started missing the culture, their attire, their soul, and especially their presence.
What moves you to create?
I feel like there’s no purpose apart from creating something each day. Imagine you’re working every day to get a good salary or are chasing your passion, just surviving or doing what really makes you happy — what do people know of you at the end? Even if you die tomorrow, do people care about you? We are born, we grow, we die. Living life in a mundane cycle while minding your own business is inevitable. I would say you should be well-known or you should contribute something to the world.
What drives you forward — in art and in life?
The answer is a little vague, but this is my honest answer. At some point, I realised that I don't even know what the purpose of all this is. Life is a loop. After thinking a lot, I came to the conclusion that we shouldn’t think too much. Nothing goes according to plan, but that doesn’t make me stop planning. To answer your question, planning makes me go forward. I do plan to create new artwork. I’m planning to do good projects, planning to have good food, planning to travel, and more.
What impact has art and illustration had on your life?
Art makes me happy; making and finishing an artwork makes me want to do more, and I love the process of sharing it with the world. Art and me — it’s like giving respect and receiving respect.
Do you think art evolves with you, or vice versa?
Art plays a huge part in my life; art is my life, and I live with art. Art helps me speak to the world through my fingers, and I feel it is a good medium to explain or talk about things we cannot literally talk about.
Words Devyani Verma
Date 19.12.2023