Tag Archives: Maryam Hasan

The Brigade That Builds Brands: Maryam Hasan Ahmad’s take on crafting an Artsy Army life on the move

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Women/Girls(since May26-2021), , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

HARYANA / INDIA :

We’re back with another interview from the ‘The Brigade That Builds Brands‘ series. It’s all about fauji wives / military spouses, who make work work for them through multiple postings, back-to-back social commitments, spotty internet connections, long stints of single parenting, community mindset regarding how military spouses should or should not work and a lot more. Today, I’m talking to Maryam Hasan Ahmad about how she juggles her life as a brush-wielding artist and as a wife of a man in boots ‘n’ beret – an Army officer. 

A talented illustrator and artist, she didn’t give up her work to fit into the fauji life, but instead, carved out a freelance career that she could pack and take along to the multiple postings across the country and world. I hope that this interview will get you revved up to create a freelance career around your passions too.

C. Please tell us something about yourself – what do you do, where are you based and how long have you been a fauji wife.

M. I am a freelance illustrator of children’s books, fashion and portraits/caricatures. I am, as of now, based out of Haryana and have been wedded to the Olive Green for 15 years.

C. What has been your business or creative journey been like: how & when did you start your venture?

M. I am an Applied Arts Graduate and have been freelancing in illustrations since college, and then did a 2 year stint in Chennai as an animator in a French Animation studio. Those two years were a big learning curve. But all that came to a standstill after getting married and being sent to obscure places where there were absolutely no job avenues. Internet was a blessing that got me hooked onto online freelancing while following my husband around the world. Now I could work from any corner and have clients from all over the world!! This opened up a whole new world for me and my dreams. Our 2 year tenure in New York was another time of personal and professional growth. I started my blog https://homespunaround.blogspot.in/ there, attended a lot of arty lectures and seminars… learnt studio pottery. Participated in a couple of pop up fairs and started selling my handmade products online.

C. Fauji wives make their home in an assortment of obscure places across the country. Our lives are about living in the moment and doing what we can, when we can. Can you share how you stayed creative or found work that satisfied you while moving across the country?

M. Fauj teaches you a lot of things (especially if you are creatively inclined and willing to learn). There are so many courses being conducted all over the stations which at least tell you the basics of art, craft, painting, decoupage etc etc. and now with the smart phones and internet at your fingertips, trying out something new is not rocket science. There are so many websites that cater to freelancers, whether you are a writer or an artist or a software professional or even if you want to sell your hand-made wares… Staying creative, finding you mojo is not difficult these days as long as you have a decent internet connection and the passion.

C. How do you juggle that load of social commitments & welfare activities that are an integral part of the fauji community, while nurturing your passions and meeting work deadlines?

M. Time management. If you let it, Fauji commitments can take over your life and as your husband moves up in the ranks and gets busy… you get busier. And there are so many commitments and obligations that you just can’t say no to. Here time management comes in handy. If you have a pending assignment, or a client getting jumpy for not getting work on time- you have to learn to prioritize. 

You can leave the cleaning of the cupboard for tomorrow, send the client that work now. Tell people that this and this is the time that you need to work, and would appreciate being left alone then. (It’s a little hard for people to get it, but insist). Decide what time works for you, put it your maximum then, with no distractions of Facebook scrolling, checking emails then.

C. As a creative/entrepreneur + fauji wife, is there something that you cherish very much about being part of this community? And is there something you feel must/can change for the better?

M. See each world has its pros and cons. I love being a fauji wife. I love the clean environment, the fantastic and SAFE cantonment life that we expose our kids too.  The quality of life when you compare with our civilian counterparts is way better. (I know a lot might disagree) but tell me where can your kids go out every evening without a care in the world, cycle, play basketball, squash, tennis, golf, swimming and come back when its dark…. And you are NOT worried. You are not the one ferrying them from one sports coaching to another. I have friends whose kids stay at home and play videogames because there is not playground in their vicinity and if its is, you cannot let them go alone! It’s not safe. So either you tag along, or you let them stay in.

We all have a fantastic social life as faujis; we work hard, but we party harder! We learn to get along with everyone (esp. relevant in unit life)… we grow as individuals, posting to posting, place to place. I think I have made lifelong friends at every station that I have been posted to.

Things to change? Hmmmm…. When I compare what was prevalent in my mother in law’s time to what is now happening in my time… fauj has changed. And evolved with time. But it needs to evolve more. It needs to understand the requirements of the extremely well educated, articulate young brides coming in with professional backgrounds. Their requirements, expectations are way different and our organization needs to listen to them.

C. What challenges have you faced in balancing work and fauji life?

M. You know there are times and places/stations that are more busy than others. During my husband’s command, my freelance work took a backseat. My pottery was forgotten (in fact still is) and my life as a CO’s wife took over. I didn’t resent that, because the station/ tenure was such and I needed to do that for my husband/unit. After command, I started freelancing again, but after a year I have got posted to another really busy station where my work has taken a backseat again. Lot of good projects were lost because I could not deliver. So yes, it does get frustrating and one has to come to terms with it, deal with it. Take out your frustration on the ever-willing husband and then make the most of what you can get and carry on regardless.

C. What tips would you give to fauji wives out there who’d like to pursue their dreams while living at small and busy bases (many still believe or led to believe that you can either be a fauji wife or a professional, and that’s not true)?

M. The world is your oyster. You are qualified and ambitious, don’t let your ambitions die out, just modify them a bit to the life that you have now. You might not work at the dream job that you planned on while you were studying, but on hindsight you will realize that you got a better deal. Try out other avenues and see what works. It’s not always necessary that as an Army wife you can only become a teacher. With the internet seeping into even the remotest of corners of the country, see what can work for you online. 

Don’t get disheartened, instead think of it as an opportunity to try out something different… something you might not have thought of before. Network with fellow army wives, forge partnerships and alliances and you never know just what might work.

C. A parting quote or philosophy that helps you stay calm and do what you do?

M . Don’t let go of your dreams. Hold on to them tight…. Plan, dream and dream some more. And work towards your dreams. Slowly and steadily you will get there.

Here’s where you can see more of Maryam’s work:

Maryam’s Art Facebook Page:

https://www.facebook.com/Maryams-Art-Studio-184891738239097

Instagram feed:

https://www.instagram.com/maryams_art_studio

Looking for inspiration to work-from-home or set up your own venture as a fauji wife? Check out our interviews of fauji wife entrepreneurs and articles on working-from-home.

Subscribe to our blog posts to stay tuned (bonus: you’ll also receive a free book on Everyday Sari Style). / If you’re on Facebook, Like us at chandana banerjee – online notebook / On Twitter? Follow me @chandanawriter / And if living green and well is on your to-do list, hop over to Gorgeous Girls Go Green (our sister site).

source: http://www.chandanabanerjee.com / Chandana Banerjee / Home / 12th June, 2018

Strokes of compassion

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, NRI's / PIO's, World Opinion, , , , , , , , , ,

Lucknow, UTTAR PRADESH / Melbourne, AUSTRALIA :

Lucknow-born Bushra Hasan, who has made her mark in Australia through her Indian-influenced art, now wants to use it as a therapy.

Bushra Hasan
Bushra Hasan

If art enables us to find and lose ourselves at the same time, Lucknow-born graphic artist Bushra Hasan has used art to create an identity for herself Down Under, her new homeland. Hasan, who moved to Australia in 2013, has added beautiful hues to her varied creative portfolio.

In five years, her different strokes have left an indelible mark on the artistic landscape in Australia, and made Hasan a name to reckon with for her brushwork. Be it the painting of a life-size puppet elephant for Moomba Parade, or the Indian truck style art adorning the trams of Kolkata and Melbourne, or the recent community art workshop that she held for immigrants, the shades of her creative sensibilities have charmed one and all.

Armed with a mixed bag of experience in designing newspaper pages and magazine covers in India, Hasan moved to Australia’s cultural capital Melbourne after “falling in love with its vibrant, stylish and arty feel”. The City of Secrets embraced the artist and her India-influenced art with open arms, and she went on to join the Multicultural Arts Victoria (MAV) as Community Liaison Officer in 2018.

“I started looking for jobs after moving to Melbourne. In between, I also launched my art brand Indybindi and started putting its products in various makers’ market. People noticed my art and MAV expressed its keenness to hire me to conduct workshops. In January 2015, Moomba Parade organisers approached me to paint a life-size puppet elephant in Indian art style, and they have used it for all parades since then,” she says.

MAV introduced her to Roberto D’Andrea, a former tram conductor, and an activist who had been working on the unusual friendship between Melbourne Tramways and Kolkata Tramways for 21 years. “Kolkata Tramways had sent an SOS to all the tram-running cities requesting them to put pressure on the West Bengal government to rethink its decision to abolish trams in Kolkata. Only Roberto responded and went there with his team, collaborated with Indian activists and organised shows, etc., that worked and the state government postponed its decision,” she says, fondly recalling her artistic collaboration with Roberto. She used kitschy Indian truck art style to tell the story of 21 years that found its way to the trams of Kolkata to celebrate the iconic tram friendship between the two cities.

“Indian tribal art hugely inspires me, and I am proud to flaunt my Indian roots in my artwork,” she says. Hasan redesigned her artwork and turned it more colourful, and reflective of India’s diverse artistic culture and submitted her entry for the 5th edition of the annual Melbourne Art Trams project. She was one among the eight artists whose design made the cut, and Tramjatra, her artistic tribute, chugged along, happily for seven months from October 2017 to April 2018 on the trams in Melbourne.

She recently led a nine-day long art exhibition for people to share their ‘immigrant journey’ through art at the Emerge In The North festival. “The workshop was an effective step towards building relationships within the community,” she says.

Having used art to create an identity, she wants to use it to heal others. Talking about her next project, she says, “I want to do a lot more to keep myself creatively engaged. I am working on a module that will focus on helping children who are victims of sexual abuse to overcome their trauma through art therapy, heal themselves, and emerge stronger.”