Omani art sensation, graphic designer, motivational speaker, and disability rights activist Safiya al Bahlani was born with various physical disabilities but a zeal to succeed. As someone who always “struggles to share about herself,” Safiya believes herself to be “a combination of everything in life in bits and pieces.” Not only is she creative and artistic, but she is ever ready to take on challenges and is passionate about everything she does.
The Omani artist is also the founder of Safiya Arts Gallery and Safiya Arts Studio. She has held more than ten solo art exhibitions of her own and participated in more than a dozen art exhibitions both internationally and locally. To get to know Safiya a little better, we caught up with her for an exclusive interview that shines a light on herself, her thought, and all that she has done and learnt throughout her journey!
Can you tell us a little bit about your disability, so that we may understand it better?
I have multiple physical disabilities, short forearms, a short right leg stump, and a deformed knee. As a child, I also had speech difficulties and was found to be deaf in one ear along with being tongue-tied. However, I had intense speech therapy to help as well as underwent surgery to make it easier for me to use a prosthetic leg.
When did you realise your passion for art?
I believe I have loved art for as long as I can remember, I was always happy to just sit down, draw and colour. I was always eager to express on paper whatever emotions would surface. Today I can proudly say that “I am art, and art is me.”
What were some of the most pressing challenges you faced as a child living with a disability?
As a child, there were some difficulties and challenges. Although I cannot recall them 100%, I do remember that my disability earned me names like ‘hotdog hands’ and ‘chicken drumsticks.’ However, I would not call it bullying but more like being teased and getting into little quarrels at times.
Do you still remember the first work of art you were personally proud of? Can you tell us a little about the piece?
My first ever portrait, I believe was that of my mother. I was only 14 years of age and I remember my mother was out of town while Mother’s Day was just around the corner. All I wanted to do was surprise her. I was adopted by my mother, Safiya al Bahlani at the age of 3. She was a single mother, trained as a Community Health Educator in the United States and was, at the time, working in a program by Oman’s Ministry of Health to educate parents of disabled children. She took me to the United States where I continued my studies and gave me everything I needed. That portrait I made of her is one of my most precious pieces of work, one that I hold dear to my heart.
How and when did your art studio come along? What inspired you? How is the studio doing currently?
I started as a freelancer, teaching in our kitchen, back in 2012; as more kids joined, I realised the kitchen space was not enough. I then took over our indoor car garage, only to find the same issue of space and that I needed a few essentials such as sinks, ventilation, and the list goes on. After many nights of discussing with my mother, and brainstorming possibilities, we came up with a plan to build a space with the essentials required. I launched the studio in 2017 and then launched the gallery in 2018. The studio was doing very well the past couple of years. Unfortunately, with the pandemic, it has suffered. I had to make a choice and stop conducting classes/workshops for almost a year and a half. However, we are hoping, within the next few months, to slowly introduce our workshops again.
How has your disability influenced your choices and journey as a person and as an artist?
I believe being born with disabilities has made me a stronger person; it has taught me patience, and to keep pushing through, finding solutions, making choices, and tap into my inner strength. This disability has also enhanced my journey as an artist. There is a lot of value-added to my art as I tend to look at the little things in life; I try to embrace and appreciate them; I can then show how I feel and see these little things through my creativity.
What are some of the most stressful challenges (creatively, physically, and emotionally) you faced throughout your journey and how did you overcome them?
It was initially difficult to earn a name for myself because there were a lot of people speculating that someone else was creating my work and I just claimed credit for it. So, it was difficult to prove that it was my work and get my name out there. But almost every artist faces this hardship. Apart from that, there are many mental blocks due to the emotional rollercoaster you face as an artist. However, every challenge that I face sparked a sense of creativity that encouraged me to push my boundaries and reach the next big step. This is something most people never realise they can achieve. Learn from challenges and trust in yourself; you will be amazed at what you are capable of.
What are some of your most successful moments?
Some of my successful moments include the opportunity to be a part of the international art residency, as well as having my work displayed in places like the Qatar Islamic Museum, the Muscat International Airport, the Al Mouj buggies. Also, when I was awarded best artist of the year 2017 with Al Marr’a, I believe that was a defining moment in my career as an artist, says a beaming Safiya.
Can you please enlighten us on the process of putting together an art piece? What goes into conceptualising and executing?
The way my art pieces come to life usually involves multiple days, months, and sometimes even years of processing ideas in my mind. I am so involved that these ideas make it to my dreams as I picture myself creating a piece. I’ll have endless sketches of different ways to making the piece in my head. So, it is a long process that takes dedication and commitment. However, for me, the hardest part I believe is taking those numerous ideas and sketches and conceptualising them into a single piece that can then be executed.
Was there a time when you wanted to give up? What keeps you going?
As a human being, there will always be times where you just want to give up, hide under the blankets and not do anything. At the same time, there will always be that ongoing argument in your head, “Well if I give up, who will do it? Did you go through this journey just to turn around and give it all up?” That voice, that makes you feel guilty more than ever, is what keeps me going. It is also the people around me that keep me going. Not everything I do is always for myself; it is for others to be a part of. I feel a social obligation within myself to help others get there too.
When did Safiya the artist become Safiya the motivational speaker? What inspired the decision, and why do you continue doing it?
I believe it was back in 2012; I was asked by a representative of the Handicap Association to speak about my journey to an audience at an event for Disability Day in the GCC. Since then, I have been invited to many places to motivate others from company staff, students in schools and colleges, and the list goes on.
As someone who has lived with a disability, what is the most important advice you would give to both people living with a disability, and their loved ones?
Firstly, to everyone, I can say that when we talk about ‘love yourself’ it is easier said than done. It takes a lot of effort to love yourself, but every cent is worth it. You cannot wait to be lifted, or for a hand to be reached out to you. You have to love and believe in yourself. The moment you do that, opportunities will start coming your way. If you continue feeling low, and sorry for yourself, and cease to appreciate the little things in life, you are only attracting negativity; a lesson I learned through my journey. To keep positive in challenging times, I created a gratitude page in my journal where I write the little things, I am grateful for! It is an incredible mental practice to stay motivated and happy.
To the people close to those with disabilities, I can only ask you to be encouraging and kind. I am always grateful to everyone who was on my side, and I could not have done all of this without them.
What advice would you give to budding artists with or without a disability?
- To get to where your dreams or goals are, take baby steps so you do not feel overwhelmed. When you achieve success with small steps, it will motivate you to pursue the bigger ones.
- Try now and again to reflect and be grateful for who you are, where you are, and how far you have come in life.
Are there any exciting projects you are currently working on? What can we expect to see in the future, and how and where do we stay updated with your work?
Well, I am currently working on a few things, but I’d like to keep them a mystery for now. However, anyone interested can always connect with my work through social media platforms with the usernames @safiya.arts and @safiyaarts.gallery.