Tired Earth: An Interview With Fatma Kadir, Artist

This interview was conducted by Selva Ozelli

What are you working on now?

I just submitted my dissertation for a master’s degree in sculpture at Yeditepe University.  And launched my third solo digital art show titled “Guarding Nature – Maskuary” for Tiredearth’s Maskuary Campaign.

Parallel to this, with considerable success, I have been exhibiting my art in art shows around the World. All  paintings in these exhibitions have been selected in

• United Nations World Unity Art Contest: https://www.talenthouse.com/i/create-artwork-that-captures-world-unity/submissions;
• United Nations Global Goals Art Contest: https://www.talenthouse.com/i/capture-one-of-the-un-global-goals-and-inspire-others-to-take-positive-action/submissions  
• Tired Earth’s Maskuary Campaign: https://twitter.com/TiredEarth_FR 

How has this year been so far, what worked well, what didn’t move as quickly as you would have liked?

We are in the midst of a Worldwide Coronavirus pandemic with riots erupting, people dying, businesses, failing all over the World at this time. Needless to say, I have not been immune from the general challenging environment. However, on the up-side I have been channeling my energy positively, into artistic  expression.

So far this year my two group art shows Atelier Teymur Rzayev First Digital Climate Change Art Show, Clean Air for Blue Skies and solo art shows Bird Watching 1 & 2  and “Guarding Nature – Maskuary” have been exhibited at:

• The Jockey Club Museum of Climate Change Hong Kong¹;
• 7th Session of Africa Regional Forum on Sustainable Development²;
• 7th Asian Pacific Adaptation Forum;
• EU Africa Business Forum;
• World Wetlands Day³;
• World Water Day⁴;
• Earthday.Org⁵;  
• World Migratory Bird Day⁶; and
• The Latin America and Caribbean Climate Week 2021 (LACCW2021)

FATMA KADIR BIRD WATCHING 1

What do you hope to express in your “Bird Watching” 1 & 2 digital art exhibitions?

Birds are important plant pollinators and seed dispersers. Yet climate change results in  increased temperatures which directly affect bird populations reproduction, timing of breeding and migration patterns. Via my “Bird Watching” 1 & 2 digital art shows I want to draw attention to our negative impact of climate change on their lives.

FATMA KADIR BIRD WATCHING 2

What influenced you to paint about environmental matters  and please explain the role of Islam in your decision?

As an avid environmentalist, with my “Bird Watching 1 & 2” and Maskuary – Guarding Nature art shows, I wanted to express my concern about human made climate change, as well as single use plastic waste stemming from the pandemic. I can’t say that Islam was an influence on my artistic expression. But I am acutely aware that all religions in the world whether it be Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism, Chinese Traditional Religion, African Traditional Religions, Judaism encourage humans to guard and respect nature. Yet somehow humans fall short on this great responsibility even though it is weaved in to world belief systems.

What are your plans for the future?

In good health, I hope to continue making climate change themed art work and exhibit them at the upcoming UN Biodiversity Conference COP15⁷ and UN Climate Change Conference COP26.

How can people find out more about what you are working on?

TWITTER: @ftm.kdr
INSTAGRAM: @ftmkadirart
FACEBOOK: https:www.facebook.com/fatma.kadir.31
WEBSITE: https://www.fatmakadirart.com
TALENTHOUSE: https://www.talenthouse.com/fatma-kadir
MASKUARY CAMPAIGN: https://twitter.com/TiredEarth_FR

1. https://www.mocc.cuhk.edu.hk/en-gb/hub-categories/news-and-developments/item/2567-president-biden-invites-40-world-leaders-to-take-part-in-an-earth-day-climate-summit-climate-haven-20210330
2. https://www.uneca.org/seventh-session-of-the-africa-regional-forum-on-sustainable-development/selva-ozelli%27s-12-digital
3. https://www.worldwetlandsday.org/dashboard
4. https://www.oceanactionhub.org/clean-air-blue-skies-digital-art-show-world-water-day-march-22-2021-0?fbclid=IwAR3qQrx-rUGZJaAzXj5TnJbzTh6ja1qH-iVQJ4VWKY1-5X_uQYMkfPdRJLM#.YFhH3jEkujI.facebook
5. https://www.earthday.org/artist-gallery/
6. https://www.worldmigratorybirdday.org/events/2021/bird-watching-digital-art-show-fatma-kadir-httpswwwyoutubecomwatchvpfjwiio2iqi
7. https://www.cbd.int/action-agenda/contributions/action/?action-id=603271df4c8dc20001adb640