Farida Abushady X COYA Dubai
How did a little Egyptian girl come to find herself as a featured artist at COYA Dubai for their 10th anniversary? Read on to see how Farida Abushady found her creative voice and quit the corporate world. "The series “Mother Nature” can be seen now at COYA Dubai.
1. Tell us more about your story and how you got into art
My love for art sparked at a very young age, and it always remained. I can recall the funniest memories of myself as a child at all the kids’ birthday parties (even my own), I would be the one doing all the kids' face painting, and might I say, I was a little perfectionist!
I studied Fine Art & Design in high school. Still, as I approached the university, I kept worrying about what career would come out of my passion, so I settled for a degree in marketing. About three years after graduating, that was, in fact, my career.
I used to work in hospitality and was previously the F&B Marketing Manager of a renowned chain of hotels in Dubai. Throughout my brief years in a corporate career, I always found myself drawn back to art with every idea or project I managed. A significant project I will always be grateful for was a creative collaboration I had initiated between one of the restaurants and a local artist. I had commissioned the artist to create six custom pieces of artwork for the hotel, and while managing the project, all I could think of was how much I wished I could be in his shoes instead of the formal suit and platforms I found myself in. After that project, I resigned, left the corporate world, picked up my paintbrush, and started painting again.
2. Where do you find inspiration?
What shapes my paintings are definitely my emotional state and what I am personally going through or where my interests lie at a particular time. I love using symbolism in my work, and I love having a storyline and some hidden meaning behind every piece. That is what makes it special. I tend to daydream a lot, especially when listening to music. I find that most of my ideas have come to me while daydreaming while lying in bed in the middle of the night or while listening to a nice track and tuning out.
As a new mother these days, I am very inspired by women, their strength, nature, and grace. My latest series Mother Nature is definitely a combination of all.
3. What is your usual creative process?
Step 1, I need to be alone! My mind can’t wonder the way it does unless I’m completely alone with my inner thoughts. Step 2, I set the scene with some good vibes. I burn sage, get some incense going, light up a candle, and put on some of my favourite music. Creativity requires one to stimulate all their senses. I then lay down with a sketchbook next to me and soaked in it. When uninterrupted, I usually visualize my next painting in these sessions. Once I have an idea in mind, I start doing research and find ways I can add some meaning and symbolism. I then think of colour and how I want the piece to make me feel.
4. What was your big break into the art world, and when did you know that “you made it”?
My big break as a creative in general was when I was approached by several television programs in Egypt to be interviewed on live television and showcase my work as a Jewelry Designer. I have been designing jewellery as a hobby ever since university. Still, if I am to pinpoint my big break in the fine arts world precisely, I would consider that exhibiting my pieces in such a prestigious space as COYA Dubai is a big deal to me. I am blessed to have them hanging on walls where people come to dine and share stories with friends and family daily.
5. Tell us more about your “Mother Nature” series featured at COYA Dubai. What was the inspiration behind the series, and what was the creative process? How did the collaboration start with COYA Dubai?
This year has been life-changing for me. Experiencing pregnancy, childbirth, and motherhood for the first time has sparked a fire in me and made me feel stronger than ever. I was reborn the day I gave birth to my son. I now carry a new perspective on life, and I feel honoured and proud to be a woman. My latest fine art collection is inspired by nature, motherhood, and my deep admiration for women's beauty, strength, and grace. I made eight bold and colourful paintings designed to celebrate women in all their glory. Moreover, the series features diverse women of all ethnic backgrounds depicted alongside nature and vibrant, uplifting colours."
6. Tell us more about your collaboration with COYA Dubai for the brand’s 10th anniversary. How many pisco jars will you be painting, and what will be your take on them?
To mark COYA’s 10th anniversary, I will be decorating four of their pisco jars. The Pisco Jars art project is a part of global collaboration where local artists from across the nine global venues will be reflecting their creativity and local influences by customizing these jars. I am super excited to showcase them, especially since I have been painting on canvas for so long, and this project features glass, a 3-dimensional base, and no boundaries! I decided to dive into some new mediums for the first time for this project so I will be experimenting with resin, mixed media, dried flowers and more! I want some of the jars to be an extension of my “Mother Nature” series, while others will feature vibrant explosions of colour. It’s all about creating ideas and having fun.