Interview with Arabisk
Yasmin Hayat graduated in painting from Central Saint Martins (University of Arts London) before specialising and in the arts of the Middle East at the Prince’s Foundation School of Traditional Arts. Inspired by her Syrian heritage, Yasmin has developed a language of painting which is derived from an old Arabic style and incorporates contemporary Western and Indo-Persian techniques. Her work is a considered blend of Eastern and Western methodology, bringing together two distinct traditions and uniting them in order to create paintings which speak to the imagination. In 2018, Yasmin was awarded the Kairos prize by His Royal Highness, Prince Charles and Professor Keith Critchlow for her paintings which preserve and celebrate traditional art practices and techniques.
1. Who is Yasmin Hayat ? And how did originality find its way to your paintings?
Yasmin Hayat is a British-Syrian artist who lives and works in London. After studying
contemporary fine art at university, Yasmin completed a Masters in Traditional Arts from Princes Foundation School of Traditional Arts. Her original style is a result of her life-long devotion to painting and has been shaped by her experiences in both institutes.
The resulting paintings are a considered blend of Eastern and Western methodology, united together in order to create paintings which speak to the imagination.
2. Why did you develop a language of painting that is derived from an old Arabic
style?
During her undergraduate painting degree at Central Saint Martins, Yasmin began
making art informed by her Syrian heritage. Inspired by the artistic and architectural
language in Damascus, Yasmin began studying geometry and Manuscript painting under several master craftspeople. As Yasmin’s artwork is inspired by her Syrian culture, it became increasingly apparent and important for Yasmin to use techniques and a stylisation that is inherent to the region. As Yasmin’s artistic knowledge matured, she developed her own language of painting that is a marriage of the old Arabic style of painting, reenvisioned in a contemporary context.