This month, as part of the annual Create & Inspire competition, organised by The Crossway Foundation, in partnership with Art Jameel and Qatar Museums, 12 winners from Saudi Arabia, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates and the United Kingdom travelled to Brazil for a creative adventure.
The Art Blog is following them on their trip and today we begin launch a series of interviews with the winners who were selected for their original and imaginative responses to this year’s competition theme: “The World is not Black & White”.
First up is Faraz Fahd Khan, a 23-year-old from the UK who recently graduated with a Masters in Engineering.
Q: How would you describe your style as an artist?
A: My style is unconventional, I look at the word style itself and try to become and live this definition. From my clothing to my speech.
I was chosen for this competition for this reason, combining B-boying (breakdancing) with filmmaking, photography and poetry.
Although I would consider B-Boying to be my main medium, I am constantly trying to push the limits and be inspired from numerous sources around me. “Aspire to inspire” is a motto I respect, as it is something that I myself hope and strive to do one day - through many walks of life.
Q: What is your main source of inspiration?
A: My main source of inspiration varies vastly, at first I would say my dancing friends from Korea. They are people that I once looked up to because they were on a level that I never thought I could reach. But over recent years, having practiced and built myself up, I found myself amongst them, dancing and practicing. Although they still are a great inspiration to me, I find that it is in other thoughts my progressive mentality lies.
Particularly in the need to do something, to be out there and to be someone that can benefit others. This dance, my art and style is so much more than before now. Initially it was just about myself, but as a man of faith, I realise that whatever I do needs to come back to one key purpose. And if I’m not fulfilling that, then I find myself lacking - losing.
So I keep pushing, to be someone that strives to do positive things with this, and use it as a tool for my own developments, so that I can essentially help to develop others on a broader scale, God - willing.
Q: What do you hope to gain from the Create & Inspire programme?
A: I hope to achieve a new level of understanding, to expand my thoughts ideas and concepts from an artistic perspective. To share, exchange and collaborate with artists here, in the hope to develop myself further. For the first time, I am being exposed to artists on such a level and many with such great mindsets. So, undoubtedly there are going to be some great assets and skills they will all have. I hope to see this and feel it in the hope to inspire myself to try new things, to step further beyond my initial expectations, and do be a part of some great and upcoming efforts.
Also, to understand how it is that I can progress, maintain and preserve in my artistic practices.
* You can follow Faraz on Instagram @therazzleroc or on Tumblr the razzleroc.tumblr.com
