She can get inspired by almost anything — from her daily walks in the park, watching a movie, reading a book, interacting with people, or just looking out the window watching birds.
Shazia Bhanji, Doha-based Pakistani, is a narrative paper sculpture artist who has a stunning array of work that can inspire anyone from an art lover to a passer-by. Her portfolio spans a wide range but is mostly based on the narration of human stories and emotions. Over the years she has found various techniques in how to manipulate and bend the paper to make these magnificent masterpieces.
Introducing herself to Community, she said: “I grew up in Lahore, Pakistan at a time when it was easy to jump on our bicycles and roam the city. There was far less traffic and far more areas where nature was untouched. I think that gave me an appreciation to observe and explore things the same way I approach art. Observing things as they are and exploring ways of representing them is how I like to work.
“As a child, I was very creative in using everything I could find around me to create gifts for my family and friends. Imagine a picture of flowers made of rice and pasta or photo collages, felt figures, etc. I have been living in Qatar for the last seven years with my husband and my 17-year-old daughter.”
Shazia did not go after paper sculpture as much as art found her. “Initially, I wanted to be a painter but found that working with something more tactile like gently coaxing paper to do things came more naturally to me. I eventually went to learn how to draw and paint with leading artists in the country, but that was when paper sculpture found me instead. The realisation that working with paper is what I enjoy as it gives me the passion and driving force to immerse in every project I work on, I didn’t have a choice, so I put down my paintbrushes and picked up an X-Acto knife instead.
“I have worked with several mediums such as oil, acrylic, and metallic sculpturing in the early days. My first exhibition was a blend of oil and acrylic. It’s not that I don’t enjoy working with these mediums, but for me, paper is one of the tremendous artistic chameleons. It is easily accessible material and can be used in crafting incredible, gallery-worthy works of art. It’s this fascinating dichotomy that entices me to experiment and use paper art as the centrepiece of my work.”
Shazia loves the way art lovers respond to his creative pieces. “Being a paper sculpture artist involves working with paper in all its forms. It can be cut, bound, curved, glued, modelled, sculpted, built, and worked in many other ways — to create a stunning piece of décor, an architecture, or an ambiance.
But wherever I’m exhibiting my artworks at an exhibition, there is always someone who asks me, “What is it? What is it made of?” And then I reply, paper. Usually, it’s followed by how is it held together? And that’s what I love about creating artworks with paper.
“Last year has been very busy for me as I wanted to broaden my horizon with new techniques and have attended various exhibitions on mechanical installation, digital and art integration, sculpture and contemporary art in Qatar, Germany, Australia, London and Turkey.”
The artist can obtain inspiration from almost everything. “I can get inspired by almost anything — from my daily walks in the park, watching a movie, reading a book, interacting with people, or just looking out the window watching birds. I also like to surround myself with nature and flowers. It’s one of my ways to reboot my head and open my mind to new ideas.
“Travelling is an excellent source of inspiration in itself, and made me more open to accept and appreciate different cultures, which I can incorporate into my work.
“I start with an idea, try to visualise what it might look like and sketch a bunch of thumbnail ideas. It’s just as vital for me to know what’s going on behind as it is in front. It gives me a better idea of why something is the way it is when you see what’s holding it up. From there, I choose the best idea sketch and develop it from there. Then, I do a final line drawing to actual size on vellum (which is used as a blueprint for the cut pieces). This is then broken down into individual parts and transferred to the paper and cut out. The final steps involve cleaning, trimming, shaping, scoring, and rounding each piece of the paper layer by layer which is then glued together to make something that looks (like) 3D.”
The seasoned artist advises young and budding artists to just love their art and nurture it. “I have one piece of advice to all young artists, find that one thing, love it, nurture it, and strive to be the best at it. If you have an idea, just experiment with it. Be enthusiastic, because creating something handmade needs patience, but the result will compensate for the time and effort invested.”
Except art, Shazia has also been taking part in community activities with the sense of paying back. “I was working on a group exhibition with International Artists Doha (IAD) which was scheduled in April 2020. Unfortunately, due to Covid-19, it’s been postponed until conditions are safe to hold such events. 
“As part of paying back to the community, I along with my fellow artists from IAD worked with Hamad Medical’s mental health for activities along with bespoke art workshops for children and adults.
“As a country, Qatar has always been supportive in promoting art and creativity. We have equal opportunities and amazing venues to exhibit our artworks. For me, Qatar is a second home and my art has been received with open arms.”
Though the social distancing norm has made the situation grim, the artist has been nurturing some plans for the future. “This year, my goal is to experiment with different mediums, combining paper, metal, and wood. I will also be challenging myself with mega projects such as a nine feet tall art mechanical sculpture. Moreover, I will be collaborating with international artists and showcasing my artworks in various geographies.” 
Photos supplied