40 June 2015 www.womanthismonth.com PEOPLE | cover story All artists have a high level of sensibility, but not all of them show it off so subtly as Karima Sharabi. After just a few words you can feel that she exhudes tranquillity and positive energy besides loving what she does. The easy flow of the conversation means our chat could last for hours. Co-founder of The Generous Light Co, she just launched the company’s first brand, Chamkana. The collection offers a selection of jewellery inspired by her Arabic calligraphy art, and T-shirts for men. We found out how she expresses her beliefs through her creations. Woman This Month: When did you realise that you had the artistic vein? Karima Sharabi: I have always loved painting and drawing ever since I was young. In high school I studied art IB at the higher level and got a seven in my exams, which is the most you can score. I then went to Parsons School of Design in New York but was overwhelmed by the city, so I left to study political science at McGill in Montreal. However, in the back of my mind I always knew that I was an artist. Woman This Month meets the artist and designer Karima Sharabi for a chat about her new jewellery collection and the creative process behind it. The Essence of the Light WTM: How did you discover that you wanted to work with Arabic calligraphy? KS: I always knew I wanted to be an artist and be recognised for my work, but I felt so frustrated by the lack of artistic outlets in Bahrain. I tried every art course and workshop I could find; I did sewing, pottery and screen printing. However, I noticed that my spiritual growth went hand in hand with my creative development. It was my longing, a yearning for an understanding of me, which led me to my calligraphy designs. A creative block that seemed to last for years slowly dissipated as I began to explore it. I feel a sense of relief that I have finally found my path in some ways and now, instead of feeling worried, I can flow with it more easily and let it take me to my destiny. WTM: You started designing tattoos, what is the story behind that? KS: My journey with Arabic lettering began when a childhood friend messaged me from Peru to ask me to write his daughter’s name in Arabic to have it tattooed on his skin. My imagery has always been quite fluid and the flow of calligraphy came naturally to me. His daughter’s name is Azul, which means blue in Spanish. Beginning with a few abstract designs, I shaped the letters of her name into a symbol that has significance for him as her father – a Piscean. The resulting symbol was a boat. This bore relevance to him as he felt that her birth helped him move forward in life in the same way that the sail of the boat - guided by a universal wind - led him on his path to self-discovery. WTM: Do you have a tattoo? Would you like to have one? KS: I don’t have any tattoos. I actually really love looking at tattoos on other people, but my preferences and aesthetics change so often that I can’t commit to having one design etched into my skin forever. Karima at her studio.
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