Saira

“I wish to be seen as a fragment of the world’s greatest artists. As a strong independent woman, who is uninfluenced by external values. I want people to know that my work invites viewers to have an engaging conversation with one another, no matter their race, colour, or creed.”

Saira is an artist, a wardrobe stylist, and an art director. Her creative medium is henna, it’s a form of art that she uses to express and investigate her experiences as a woman of colour. It’s also what brings her together with others. She told me, “I have had the opportunity to meet many people from all parts of life through the adornment of art. It has not only grown my business but has allowed me to express my vulnerability and fill in my questions to loss, identity, and community.” Her proudest accomplishment is using her artistic endeavors as a catalyst to create a platform for diverse women of all generations to circulate their experiences with another. She wants the conversation within our communities to be one of constant learning. When I asked her if she feels visibly Muslim she told me, “I am seen through many societal lenses in my work field; styling freely and expressing my bride’s personal stories in Henna which is seen practiced in Muslim communities. As a woman of many influences, I feel it is best to maintain a deeper connection through the soul when it comes to being Muslim.” What’s most important to Saira is having “a healthy body and a healthy mind [that] will lead to a healthy lifestyle filled with great conversation, love, [and] community.” She adds, “Solitude is most important to me; a space where I can reflect on my true being and having the freedom to do so.”

Q&A Feature:

What is your favourite quality about yourself?

"My bed, a warm cradling of the body to allow it to heal through a day’s encounter. Secluded and surrounded by the shadows of my home, I am able to create my best works."

What is a fun fact about you that you haven’t told me yet?

"I am nurturing beyond comprehension. My motherly instincts are persistent and are an obsessive characteristic. I am trying to control it as I do not know what I will do if my children (inshallah) were to ever part from me.