Laxmi Hussain is a London based artist whose work exists somewhere between the abstract and the realistic. Having studied architecture, she enjoyed and excelled at the drawing and fluid art techniques within the course and this became a basis from which to explore all aspects of drawing.
After becoming a mother, Laxmi began drawing daily and sharing her work on Instagram, finding artwork to be a valuable means of reclaiming her own identity amid the emotional blurrings of motherhood. These experiences of motherhood can be seen clearly within her work, as well as exploring themes surrounding the body, specifically looking to challenge negative associations and normalise representation of all types of bodies within art.
Images © Liz Seabrook
Self-taught or art school?
Self-taught, although I did do a lot of drawing for my degree which is in Architecture.
If you could own one work of art what would it be?
It would have to be a Helen Frankenthaler. There was a piece in the Imagining Landscapes exhibit last summer at the Gagosian which was pink and blue with a touch of yellow and it just blew my mind. It wouldn’t fit in my house, but it would be my most prized possession.
How would you describe your style?
I express the body through the colour blue, usually in line, whether this is in ink, paint or pen. My work can often be quite abstract, but also have an element of reality to it. I’ll often depict moments of motherhood for example, where there are details of my baby’s feet or body that are quite true to form, but the mother will be a more obscure form in the background.
Is narrative important within your work?
Absolutely, I use art to work through a lot of personal circumstances and sometimes it is the only way I can navigate my way out of difficult times in my life. My work tells my story, and usually, it helps me to see a situation for what it is, something that I need to work through and with as an essential part of life. With the mural in Wembley Park, I wanted to create a claim to the feminine in an area that has always been traditionally recognised as masculine. To represent the women within the borough and to add some softness into the space. It is also really nice to have been able to work on this with a group of other women artists across various canvases in Wembley Park, I’m very grateful to Zoë Allen for curating the Spring Art Trail and bringing us all together.
Who are your favourite artists and why?
My very good friend Asha Vaidyanath (https://ashavaidyanath.com), work is so tranquil and beautiful and has an aspect of storytelling that is just so calming. I also really love the work of Toronto artist Tahsin (https://tahsinthegood.com) whose art is just so bold and playful, she also navigates being an artist amongst motherhood and so I feel a lot of synergy in our lives.
What or who inspires your art?
The body is what inspires me the most, I’ve been exploring the body for a good few years now and it never fails to surprise me with new forms.
Are there any recurring themes within your work and can you tell us about them?
I explore the body almost solely, however, more specifically I’ve explored motherhood a lot over the last year or so. The connection between myself and my baby (my 3rd) and I’m really curious to see how this changes as they grow. Long term I’ve been thinking about how I might introduce the relationships with my older children into my work. I also have a fun project which I try to keep exploring which explores the aspect of taking a Selfie. Within this I try I am trying to reclaim the selfie, not as an act of vanity, but as an act of honouring yourself, feeling empowered by this act and therefore appreciating ourselves more.
Where’s your studio and what’s it like?
My studio is in Wembley Park, it’s a nice modern space with a huge floor to ceiling window and lovely 4m high ceilings. It’s been my space for over a year now and I’m so grateful for it. Wembley Park has grown so much over the last few years, and having this buzzing energy of its growth surrounding me means it’s also a nice place to be able to work, there is so much going on all the time, and of course now that my mural is around the corner, I get to proudly appreciate it all the time.
Do you have any studio rituals?
Yes, I always begin with a coffee, I’ll pop some soulful music on and I’ll usually clear my space to prepare my mind. My studio is quite organised, but being an artist means it can become quite chaotic pretty quickly (especially as I often bring my toddler in with me) – tidying up and making it messy again is my thing, haha!
What are you working on currently?
I’m actually winding down after a busy few weeks. I’ve planned the months ahead to be a bit slower to develop new paintings and ideas. Almost a bit of self-discovery time. Every artist needs this, we just don’t always get time to really do this. I plan these times ahead as if they are another job, to allow my work to develop, give myself time to experiment and explore, I’m really excited to see what comes next!
Where can we buy your art?
https://partnershipeditions.com/collections/laxmi-hussain
What are your ambitions? This year I wanted to go bigger and my mural in the Spring trail at Wembley Park is just the start! I’d like to keep this energy going and definitely do more exciting projects like this!
