Sumuyya Khader

Sumuyya Khader’s practice is a combination of illustration, drawing, and print works that predominantly explore place and identity. The Liverpool-based artist’s work is often influenced by the location she inhabits, while works are typically paper based and involve the layering of imagery to tell a story.

“Communicating via a visual language that acts as an entry point into art is important to me. A constant focus of my practice is to explore the power of imagery and its function as a tool for discussion and empowerment” says Sumuyya. This includes the importance of visual art being present in communities who typically might have difficulty accessing institutions, as is the case with her local area of Granby, Liverpool. She staes; “I am interested in contributing images and art works to that area which are beautiful and useful, provoking, yet also part of their surroundings and accessible to all”. Sumuyya has been looking at the gaps within her surroundings in Granby, to see what’s currently there and what is missing; gaining feedback from peers, neighbours and the local community about what art can and should be. The balance of preserving and honouring what is around her, while adding what is hoped to be a useful element, in turn offers up inspiration for others to develop something that also contributes to the cycle of creativity.

“Recently, my work has started to evoke a more social stance and awareness of not only my own background as a female artist, but the cultural landscape we currently find ourselves in, creating more of a message within the artwork… The idea and importance of placement and movement, to be dispersed from a landscape and visualised in another. The power within being black, historically the importance of the female figure – the warrior who is constantly belittled and misunderstood, labelled angry and unyielding. What happens when you narrate these female perspectives through figurative and abstract visual language?”In her work colours pop and overlap, collages reveal hidden secrets and struggles, but also show beauty. A constant focus of her practice is to explore the power of imagery and its function as a tool for discussion and empowerment. Sumuyya designs things that are beautiful yet useful, provoking, but fitting with their surroundings and accessible to all.

She looks to activists and community leaders of both the present and past to create works that are not only visually interesting, but communicate a story. Her ambition is to create a artworks that explore these themes, but that are also created using a multitude of processes. Through the combining of these mediums; print, language, banners and posters are brought together in a space that encourages further dialogue, prompting reaction.

The majority of her recent work has involved Risograph printing, allowing Sumuyya to draw and print works in the moment. “As my practice involves responding to what is around me it means I can edit work and reprint editions to reflect what is happening” explains the illustrator. She has also set up a printing studio in her local area which she hopes she can develop further over the next 12 months. The artist states; “I’m a big fan of print, and as an artist it’s my favourite medium to work in. People are keen to find new ways to communicate and engage with each other and independent printing provides that. I’ve enjoyed printing my own work but also collecting the work of other illustrators and zine makers over the past 5 years. I think it’s a great medium. There’s been a wave of renewed interest in physical printed matter over the past 10 years. Zine culture is at a high.”For Sumuyya, it’s also really important to have non-disposable media; “Digital is an incredible resource and way to quickly communicate and share ideas. But the more long form approach of print; designing a layout, choosing paper, ink colours, and then the physical print process always has a more enjoyable interaction for me personally. The fact things can misprint and show you a whole new world of possibilities allows for flexibility and a bit of surprise.”

Alongside having her own individual practice exploring themes she is passionate about, Sumuyya also works on commissions and projects that expand her approach, from illustrating articles, to designing book covers.

www.sumuyyakhader.com
@sumuyya

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