How would you introduce yourself as an artist?
I am Esta from Iraq. I am an artist. I turn feelings into colors and tell stories without words. I work with painting, handcrafts, and photography.
In my art, I see myself as a woman. I come from a country known for its old artistic culture, but today society does not want women to be artists.
How did you get into art? When did it happen?
I started when I was ten years old. I discovered that I could create a better world in my paintings than the one around me. In my society, art is not for women. We cannot show it. Women can be artists only in private. As women, we have very little space – mostly the home. I cannot be known as an artist, sell my paintings, or study art.
What emotions inspire your art the most?
I am inspired by emotions that are hard to describe in words, especially love and quiet moments. When I feel happy, I like to paint.
And other inspirations?
I see myself as a positive person and a strong woman, because I went through a lot to be here. I like to paint women in beautiful moments: dancing, reading, holding children. Love is present in all my paintings about women. In my society, women do not have freedom, so through my art I want to show that women are human and have rights.
Does living between cultures influence your art?
Yes, very much. I like to mix cultures in my paintings. I want to share my thoughts about how beautiful it is to learn about another culture while still keeping your own. Through my art, I try to send messages to my society and to other societies that treat women as if they do not matter.
How have you experienced art in Poland so far?
I see art here in three words: life, love, and dream.
Life, because before I did not really live.
Love, because it is free and given without asking.
Dream, because here I am living my dream as an artist.
And the position of artists in Poland?
Here, art is treated as real work. This allows me to dream of making art my profession. Art is important here, and that is something very special for me.
How do you feel as a non-Polish artist in Poland?
I feel unique here. My art is appreciated for the way I mix cultures. Someone asked me to copy one of my paintings, and that made me very happy. In my own society, showing my art can feel shameful or forbidden.
Can you tell us more about the work that was copied?
The painting is about a woman standing at the door of her life. Before, she used a lantern because her life was in darkness. But she left the lantern behind, because she found a home. Behind the door, you can see Białystok – the first place that gave her love, the door of Poland.
Another painting is about dancing. The dancer is a Polish woman, but she wears a skirt made of Arabic fabric. The message is simple: a woman is a woman, and she can dance at any age. You can see how Poland is proud of its culture through traditional clothing. On the skirt, there are Arabic words that mean: light, love, peace, life, deer. The painting shows how cultures can meet. When you love art and are open to other cultures, this mix gives you a new way of seeing the world.
What are you currently working on, and what would you like to do next?
I am working to make the world more beautiful by sharing culture through art. I want to help women like myself see new possibilities. My dream is to create a gallery for this kind of art. In the future, I would also like to organize painting classes with different organizations.
I want to support women in doing what they truly want, not only what their families expect. This is the message in my art. I like to be close to people and help them feel strong, because I know this feeling very well.
What kind of collaborations are you open to?
I am open to workshops for mothers and children. I would also like to sell my paintings through galleries and make art my main work.
At the beginning of February, I had a small exhibition organized by Caritas. I helped paint decorations for a children’s theatre, and they invited me to show my work. It was a small exhibition, but it was my first one!
