KOZHIKODE: When Shabija A K decided to put her thoughts and observations on canvas in the form of bold strokes in different hues, she did not know that she would conduct a painting exhibition in Kozhikode city.
Hailing from Malappuram, Shabija is currently a computer science teacher at the Creative International School, Dammam, and the mother of three children. She decided to give a hand at painting just two years ago. Shabija, who is settled in Dammam with her family for 13 years, was in the city from August 1 and was quite elated at the response received at her painting expo named ‘Darkness...with little light.' Without any prior training, Shabija did not imagine taking up painting as something more than just a hobby.
About her tryst with painting, Shabija says, ''I started off with glass painting first. The interest developed slowly and one fine day, I decided to experiment on canvas.”
Shabija has not restricted herself to just one style of painting. She chose to speak volumes through abstract, realism and modern art alike. Her vibrant strokes touch upon some of the innate emotions seen in nature and women and topics related to the war-stricken Palestine. One of the most striking paintings out of the 82 on display is the one with the Palestine flag. The red colour from the red triangle on the flag wears a gory look. The painting, in simple strokes, captures the Palestinian agony. Her husband Abdurahim Churapilakkal was quite surprised when his wife decided to take her painting skills more seriously. “The skill is inborn, her two brothers are also into it. But then, we are really surprised at the response we got here,” he said.
When asked whether he has any penchant for painting, he says, “I do not paint at all, but I give her some suggestions. I like realistic painting a lot, so I always ask her to do more realistic paintings than modern art or abstract ones.”
Shabija, who was not into observing any other artist's work before, says, “I have started looking at paintings by all artists now. I try to understand and analyse those paintings.”
Shabija, along with her husband and three kids Amal, Adin and Akhil, came all the way from Dammam just to conduct this exhibition in her homeland.
“Most of these works were done from Dammam. My first painting was done using colours brought from Kozhikode. I am looking forward to creating more paintings and conducting more exhibitions very soon,” she says. Shabija's exhibition concluded on August 5.