Interview with Afshan Nawaz Khan

Afshan Nawaz Khan about herself

I am Afshan Nawaz Khan, an Indian visual artist, based in Dubai. I am a passionate advocate of sustainability for the need to nurture and preserve our planet. I won the Blue Dot at COP28 in Dubai for my painting on climate change. I have won multiple awards, exhibited internationally and also had the proud opportunity to meet the Ruler of Sharjah at Sharjah Arabic Forum where I was a participant. I have so far taken part in more than 30 art exhibitions globally, won 9 Inter-school art competitions, including UNICEF Mena Blue Dot for COP-28 and am a holder of the position of General Secretary India Department in UNESCO International Art Action conferred by Honourable Ms. Sultana Kazim, Emirati national and Global Art Ambassador of UNESCO Club. I am a certified honorary Humanitarian Ambassador by Omniyat World, Dubai. I have always thought about how art shares an intimate relationship with society.

I have already exhibited internationally in UAE, USA, Turkiye and Georgia. Among my future goals is to exhibit my artworks in more countries, to network with more artists and bring them together on a UAE platform to find solutions to many pressing concerns. My paintings and art pieces narrate stories and traditions, and will be a precious source of knowledge for current and future generations. In my own way, I am helping preserve and shape the identity of the society I live and work in.

Interview

What is your ultimate vision for your art career as a young Gen Z artist?

My paintings and art pieces narrate stories and traditions, and will be a precious source of knowledge for the current and future generations. In my own way, I am helping preserve and shape the identity of the society I live and work in. At fifteen, I have only begun my life as an artist. As I evolve and mature, I will increasingly utilize the immense power of art to influence challenge and change society for the better. l have many goals that include exhibiting with top galleries of the world and sell more paintings and more. My ultimate goal is to influence the youth, my peers and all of my community members to encourage the use of sustainable art. I want to contribute through the medium of art to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). I always try to never miss any opportunity or events which are promoting sustainability goals for the benefit of planet.

Can art ever be truly universal, or is it always rooted in personal or cultural context?

Art is not limited to being rooted in Personal or cultural terms because, according to me, it is a language from the Soul. I believe that art is not restricted by geographical or ethnic boundaries. Rather, art is a form of self-expression that has always been a crucial way of connecting People. an instance of this are my paintings the ‘Ashoka Stambh’ belonging To the Indian civilization and the ‘Sphinx which marks the Egyptian civilization. Both Of these paintings express two completely different cultures. Art is not merely painting but also a universal language that connects people across time and space. It can illustrate diverse cultures and histories while also being appealing to the eye. It can unify people, reflect emotions and narrate impactful stories. When the audience observes a piece of art, they feel the emotions of the painting instead of the artist’s. Art upholds the power of even reaching isolated spots and illuminating them with its diversity.

How do you approach the concept of ‘beauty” in your art? Is it more about harmony, disruption, or something else?

My art is about capturing details such as expressions, emotions, compelling stories and culture to have a positive impact. In this regard, I may mention my painting Eternal Love’ where I have painted a scenic moment from the movie Titanic painted the most beautiful yet painful moment that captures love, sacrifice and  separation. In this painting, l’ve tried to create the moment for which millions cried in that era. Hence, in my paintings, I try to bring out emotions.

What challenges do you face when trying to express intangible emotions or abstract ideas visually?

Artists, before beginning any artwork experience the process of thinking. We travel towards imagination and wonder. We try to feel emotions deeply. My painting Empress Theodora’ of the Byzantine Empress was one such project where I faced a challenge. The time when I had to paint the face of a powerful woman from an  ancient era proved to be complex. To get that emotion and expression on her face was difficult for me. It took me a while to figure out the right track to create the face. In fact, each of the paintings create go through a certain amount of time where I try to combine art with emotions.

How has your artistic vision evolved over the years, and what inspired those changes?

In these years, my way of looking and making art have both changed greatly. Instead of admiring the work, I try to understand it and interpret its meanings. My art used to serve the purpose of being admirable, but, now it is more of creating an  impact particularly about social issues.I firmly believe in taking action to seek dialogue and spark conversations about social issues that are adversely effecting  our environment and community. I am a socially responsible artist and I take it as my job to use art as source of awareness. These changes have come in me because of observing and learning about the value of art. It has evolved into a much more beautiful perspective merely because of working constantly to improve my art.

How do you measure the success or impact of a piece of art? Is it about audience reception, personal satisfaction, or  something else?

Primarily, my personal satisfaction is the aspect that matters the most to me. If I feel content with the way my painting unfolds, I feel extremely pleased. It is the feeling that brings me joy and makes me feel elated. Besides this, as a Gen Z artist, Iam very active on social media, I consistently post the progress of my paintings while I am working on them. It acts as a way obtaining the reaction of my audience. I connect with the youth through comments which gives me a clear idea for understanding my painting. In my opinion, the success of a painting is defined by whether it was able to make an impact without having to speak.

What is your perspective on using technology (Al, digital tools, etc.) incontemporary visual art?

With the emergence of Al and digital tools in this modern world, an artist can access new tools to enhance creativity to create interactive installations in order to provide an engaging experience to the audience. However, I personally believe that the use of such technologies also bring in many challenges, particularly relating to the authenticity and originality of the artwork. Art made by Al and digital resources lack in bringing out emotional connection that human artists solely are capable of bringing. Besides this, I am also a responsible artist. When we talk about originality, the questions about the abuse of VR, Al and associated technologies become an issue. I, as a socially responsible artists, stand very firmly on the side of authenticity, originality and authorship. I intend to use my talent as an artist in the days to come to tackle the subject of the misuse of technology.

If you could create an artwork that would exist for eternity, what message or emotion would you want it to convey?

I dream of creating a painting that will have a positivity and everlasting impression on the society. I want to create an artwork so unique, that it continues to inspire the future generations to admire it and paint as well. I want to create an artwork that will instil the feeling of painting in the hearts of my audience as well. I wish to create a feeling in the coming generations that will make them want to grab a brush and paint curvy strokes against the surface of a canvas.

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