- Ali, you’re a fashion designer extraordinaire. Tell us about your journey from fashion into art and why did you choose to dabble into the field at this point in your career?
I am an artist first and then a fashion designer. I remember in my earlier years, even before I went to high school, I used to love painting, drawing, creating, and decorating things, so this comes to be naturally. Also, with my training in Government College, then fashion school and later formal training in painting has made me realize that technically I was an artist first and then a fashion designer. As per doing this at this point of my career, I didn’t really think about it like that. I feel you can do anything at any time only when you are ready for it and my feeling of being ready didn’t come overnight. I have been working on my art for so many years and my first art exhibition was supposed to be in 2019 but then the pandemic hit us. Furthermore, it’s pivotal to understand that there is always a right time and I feel this was because the response was overwhelming. Moreover, If you can do two things, why do one? I mean if you can be a fashion designer and Artist, you don’t have to choice one.
- What is ‘Exquisite Mistake’ all about? Tell us the premise behind your solo show.
My first ever Art show “Exquisite Mistake” is an interesting anecdote of my Khala’s (aunty) house help, Nani. As a child, I grew up around her and she was more like a nanny to me. What a vibrant and eccentric personality I must add, I remember her dancing on weddings and dressing up in the coolest way! Later she got married and went away. Cut to 4 years back, when I saw her again, I noticed that this time she was different – all worn off, old and lethargic. She told me that she was raising her 2 daughters as a single mother. Seeing her condition like this, jolted me. Around the same time, I was also reading an online article about how we humans have ruined Mother Earth and it’s not the same anymore due to environmental changes. This grew an analogy in my head and I related this with Nani. What her children did to her is exactly what we are doing to our planet. Hence, this is how the whole thought was born and then I started developing the idea of portraying the journey of Mother Earth. I painted the idea on canvas that how glorious it was, how damaged it is now and everything in between. - Who are your inspirations as an artist?
Being in the fashion industry and being from an art school I have been observing many artists throughout the world but my all time favourite would be Syed Akhtar and Gul Jee. I also have a privilege to meet both of them, spend time with them and observing them very closely. Furthermore, internationally I love Claude Monet and Vincent van Gogh as I have studied them a lot during several assignments and thesis projects. - Have you had formal training as an artist?
Yes, I did have formal training. In fact I am an old Ravian from Government College where I was the president of the art society and got the Best student award conservatively for two years. I also got a distinction so that is where I had my training but otherwise I am mostly self-thought. Furthermore, I think you cannot learn art, you have it or you don’t. Luckily, I am blessed with the skill of creativity, to paint and to put my imagination on a canvas as it comes to be naturally. For me Art is very therapeutic as it takes me away from the extra noise of the world and leads me to my zone, my planet. And that’s a great place to be! - What mediums did you work with for your solo show?
In my solo show I mostly used oil on canvas with acrylics but I personally feel I am beyond mediums. I mean it can be any medium whatsoever suits you in projecting what you want to project. - Do you intend to continue your journey into the art world?
Yes definitely! I was super nervous before my solo show because I feel that through Art you are showing your most vulnerable self. However, the response was so overwhelming and my exhibition at Pakistan Art Forum was a game changer for me. In Fact, I got very excited but of course once you have such a successful show you have so much pressure on you for the next time. But I feel that this kind of pressure is a great problem to have! - What role (if any) your training as a fashion designer plays in your journey into the art world?
My training as a fashion designer has really helped me in this process. It’s important to understand that Fashion is the perfect marriage of Art and Commerce and being in the industry for so long, I kind of learned how to add frills and feathers to anything to lift it up, or the business side and how to meet deadlines. Sometimes you get lazy but fashion has taught me how to be on your toes because no matter how good of an artist you are, if you can’t deliver, there is no point. - How important is the art of storytelling to an artist’s collection?
Storytelling is very important even as a fashion designer, I have said it earlier, “I am primarily a storyteller and I sell clothes in between”. For me, the rhythm and authenticity of the story is important, if it comes out of your heart, it will touch everyone’s heart. So I truly believe in a story but it has to be real. - Have you already started conceptualizing your next art show? Any hints?
I want to start working on my new collection but just waiting to be inspired or finding that one small dot to start from. For this I am just keeping my heart and mind open. Whenever I see the ray of light or find something that I want to explore, I Will start putting it on my canvas
