Graphic designer, illustrator, painter, typographer - the list is endless as to what Watford-born artist Sajjad Shah can do but it is only the second time that this 35-year-old will be displaying his work.
His exhibition entitled Contemporary Islamic Typo-Calligraphic Designs is currently on at Harrow Arts Centre and Sajjad says his work has been highly influenced by Western art.
“All artworks on show fuse 20th Century art genres such as Cubism, Futurism and Bauhaus with various styles of Islamic calligraphy to create a contemporary digital approach to traditional Islamic art,” he says. “I have always had a interest in world art, some of my biggest inspirations are Picasso and Magritte, and I guess I am lucky that I have two cultures that I can draw upon and be able to create something unique and modern.”
Sajjad, who is a British Muslim, explains how Islamic art is flexible and allows you to be more creative and it was this aspect that he found fascinating. He says: “My passion for Islamic art, calligraphy and architecture led me to complete a course of traditional Naskh calligraphy in London, a specific Islamic calligraphic style.
“I find there is a lot you can do with this specific type of calligraphy. My portfolio includes a mix of classical typography - hand drawn and painted - as well as a contemporary digital approaches to classical calligraphic compositions. About 90 per cent of my work on display includes some form of calligraphy in there.”
The former Watford Grammar School pupil admits that since he was a child he has always enjoyed art. “I loved art. I got a lot of compliments about my work when I was at school,” he says.
“As I kid I used to love comics and would draw superheroes like Spiderman. I was fortunate enough that my dad used to take us to the cinema a lot - we would go see films like the original Star Wars and I would go and draw the people from the film like Darth Vader.”
Sajjid, who quit his job at Macmillan Cancer Support to focus on making his hobby into his profession, adds, “I then went on to paint portraits of family members and still do that.
"I enjoy experimenting with different classical and contemporary styles in my paintings and digital artworks.”
Sajjid’s work will be on display at the Harrow Arts Centre until March 10. His work can also be viewed here.
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