Nur details how she uses art as an outlet for emotional expression and highlights the daunting reality of pursuing a career in art in today's society - despite it being her passion. Her stand-out paint on canvas, 'Fundamental Darkness,' was auctioned for over £500 at Edward Street Campus Gallery Space.
Baba: When did you start painting?
Nur: When I changed sixth forms and swapped all my subjects around because I wasn’t enjoying anything I was doing.
At the time, did you ever think you’ll be getting interviewed for your painting?
Definitely not. I thought it’ll be something I’ll try out but then it became more than a subject for me. It became something I was genuinely passionate about which was rare
because I had never really been passionate about anything other than music.
Are you worried about earning a living by being an artist?
Definitely, I’m concerned about my future. Though I’m doing something I love; it does scare me because it’s such a niche part of society. There are very few people in the world that appreciate the art side of things. But over the last 100 years, art has become of more interest to people. It’s become part of people’s lives without them even realising it. But yes, I am freaked out about not having a proper job prospect. I thought about going into interior design because there’s money in that. I don't see myself finishing my degree and being in a specific job.
Do you mean, a regular 9-5 job?
Exactly. I genuinely can’t relate because I can’t see myself there. When people ask me where I see myself – I just see myself constantly creating in a studio. I know that sounds like I'm living my best life and not taking anything seriously - but at the end of the day, I’ve been doing it and putting my heart and my soul into it for the last two years. I’ve gotten a reward out of it.
"I don’t care what other people think about my art. I'm putting it out there for my personal growth."
What was the reward?
The reward was the grade to get into university. It proved to me that hard work pays off. I’ve also got people asking to buy my work which is mad. It’s also a little scary because I don't know what to do about it.
Why’s that scary for you?
I was having a conversation with people at a restaurant I worked at in Bluewater. They said how brave I was for taking such a leap in a non-academic subject and hoping for a future in it. At first, I felt like they were being condescending but it's true. I do feel like I am taking a brave step and most people think it’s a shot in the dark but what will be will be.
What do you plan on studying at uni?
I’m doing a fine art painting degree. I wanted to do just a general fine art degree because I wanted it to be broader. Brighton University only offers fine art painting and, since I'm not good at drawing and painting is my thing, I thought I may as well do this. In any art degree, you touch on other aspects of art. Like in my fine art A-level, I wasn't just painting. I did everything under the sun, from sculpture making to pottery. Some people want to do pottery at university which is pretty sick but its not for me.
Do you understand what goes on in your paintings?
Yeah, it’s weird because each painting tells a different story. I know how I was feeling during those times. I work very quickly - I can’t sit down and meticulously paint a face. It just fucks me off and I get annoyed, so I just move on. I have to work big because I’m messy. Not messy to a point that you can’t see what you’re doing. I’m just gestural, so I’m always painting on a big scale.
In my exam at Brighton University, you’re meant to produce one or two amazing pieces and spend two days creating them. But in a day, I’ll produce like 10 if I’m just chilling. In the exam, I came out with 24 pieces. Then everyone was there with one amazing piece. I then felt like I didn’t put enough heart and effort into each of mine.
But that’s just the way you work, isn’t it?
Well, the people in my art group weren’t happy about it, because it doesn’t look like I was taking it seriously. After all, I’m not spending hours perfecting one thing.
The emotion in the faces of the characters you paint moves me. It seems like they’re going through a lot. What’s the inspiration and why do you paint in this way?
It’s nice that people who see my work, like you, can understand and see where I'm coming from. That's why it's produced. For me, it’s kind of the equivalent of somebody writing in a diary, letting their thoughts out. Just because I haven’t vocalised them doesn’t mean that they’re not there. What goes on in my head is what is on a canvas. I did a project called ‘portraits and turmoil' which describes a period of your life or a stage you’re going through where you’re struggling. I don’t think I’ve produced a decent happy face.
Do you think you will produce a happy face?
This is a battle I’ve been having with myself recently because I'm in a very different space from where I was when I started. I was in the genuine dumps! I was so low – it was one of the lowest points in my life and that’s why I started art. It was a release for me, the only way I could express how I was feeling without having to talk about it.
It was like an outlet…
Exactly! People can interpret my art the way they want - I think that’s why I like it. Some people will get it and will see the pain, but some people might just think “oh that’s cool,” because it's colourful, and so on. I get everyone’s different opinions – but to be honest, I don’t care what other people think about my art. I'm putting it out there for my personal growth.
My parents said to me over the last couple of months, “I do question where you'll be if you didn’t have art" because I did every subject under the sun from fucking psychology, biology, English, and French — all these subjects that I never really needed to do. Only to realise that art was the one thing that I can succeed at. It’s got nothing with me wanting to put it out there for the world to see. I’ve been more open to showing people my work because it is such a personal thing. I think only the people that are close to me understand it. But no one’s ever going to look at a painting and understand exactly what is going on.
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