*Featured in Manifesting the Unseen: London 2018*

Samira Mian

Samira is a budding artist & experienced educator with a passion for Islamic Geometry. By tapping into her 12 years secondary school teaching experience, she has been able to share her passion for the compass and straight edge constructions of Islamic Geometric Patterns in the UK, abroad and online. Her biggest motivation is to bring this immensely satisfying pursuit to the widest possible audience. Sharing the intellectual yet beautiful patterns created by those namesless masters that came before us from across the Islamic Lands.

www.samiramian.uk

Photo credit: Laura Gallant, Buzzfeed

Featured in Manifesting the Unseen: London 2018

The Niqāb & Noor Series 2018

Samira Mian

In the Niqāb & Noor series, each painting is a portrait of a Muslim woman. The artist has reflected on a list of words chosen by each of the subjects to create individual portrayals of them.

These words provide insight beyond their niqāb (their veil), and into their individuality, character and life, their noor (their light).

Niqāb & Noor I, Samira 2018

Samira Mian

Watercolour and gouache

Alive, underestimated, resilient, joyful, patient, empathetic, open, complex, distant, appreciative, easily pleased, just, solution-seeking, undaunted, diligent, fantastical, keen, unrequited, inventive, God-loving, giddy, entertaining, learner.

Niqāb & Noor II, Khadijah 2018

Samira Mian

Watercolour and gouache

Vibrant, poet, productive, blunt, funny, captivating, quirky, selfless, calm, multi-dimensional, sincere, emotional, intelligent, energetic, unconventional, ambitious, chef, determined, artist, translator, passionate, affectionate, lovable, diligent, creative, حنونة, محبوبة , مجتهدة, خلوقة, صاحبة.

Niqāb & Noor III, Iesha 2018

Samira Mian

Watercolour and gouache

Dabbler, dreamer, dawdler. Creative, curious, cautious. Intense, inking, introvert. Baking, brush-wielding, book-worm. Wandering, watercolouring, writer. Fiery, flowery, fallible. Grateful, gouaching, gardener. Scatty, sanguine, seeker. Homegrown, handmade, homemade (infused with ethics, nourishment & love, can’t be outsourced, mechanised or bought). Inspired by the shared story of human history, heritage, diversity and variation.

The Artists