In conversation with Halima Cassell
“I would like my work to be as accessible to the public as possible…”
- Halima Cassell
Halima Cassell. Photo by Matt Alexander/PAMedia.
Born in 1975 in Pakistan, brought up in Lancashire and now living in Shropshire, Halima's varied, multi-cultural background is tangibly present in her work.
Natural creativity presented itself at an early age and was nurtured to fruition as Halima carved her way through an art-based education: an undergraduate degree in 1997 and an MA in 2002.
The culmination of this process is Halima’s precociously mature work. Fusing her Asian roots with a fascination for African pattern work and her deep passion for architectural geometry, Halima’s work is intense yet playful, structured yet creative; substantial yet dynamic and invariably compelling in its originality.
What sparked your passion for art, and how has it evolved over the years?
My passion for art came from my early love and interaction with architecture, mathematics, and geometry found in nature. I feel my work has evolved thanks to my curiosity to investigate and push the boundaries of the materials I work with within my practice.
How would you define your unique artistic style? Is there a signature element that makes your work unmistakably yours?
I constantly investigate and reflect on my artistic practice. If I think back, researching and studying how I could implement mathematics and geometry and my fascination with optical illusions in my work helped me shape my artistic style and my career from an early stage.
Congratulations on your recent 2024 Brookfield Properties Craft Award! What does this prestigious recognition mean to you?
Being the winner of the 2024 Brookfield Properties Craft Award has been an honour, as the Award celebrates artist makers and representative galleries who have demonstrated vision, talent, and achievement and contributed to craft practice in the UK. As part of the award package, the winning artwork is acquired from the artist's representative gallery by Brookfield Properties and gifted to the Crafts Council's Collection. It has been wonderful to see my artwork 'Mariposa Lis' be part of such an important collection comprising more than 1800 objects.
Your latest solo exhibition is currently on display at 30 Fenchurch Street. What inspired this show, and what can visitors expect from the experience?
As winner of the 2024 Brookfield Properties Craft Award, my work will be shown in two new exhibitions, a retrospective solo show at 30 Fenchurch Street and the '5&20' group show at 99 Bisphosphate. Both shows, co-curated by Brookfield Properties x Crafts Council, celebrate the best in British contemporary craft for their joint milestone anniversary of five years of the Brookfield Properties Craft Award and 20 years of the Collect art fair. I wanted to show a range of works to a new audience that would not necessarily go to see my art in a gallery or museum setting. I would like my work to be as accessible to the public as possible, and it's great to know both shows will be free to the public on both Brookfield Properties' sites.
Halima Cassell’s work is on show in two new exhibitions: a retrospective solo show at 30 Fenchurch Street and the '5&20' group show at 99 Bisphosphate. Photo by Matt Alexander/PAMedia.
What kind of experience do you envision for visitors engaging with your art?
I hope visitors will engage freely with the artworks on display as I wish to open my work to a wider audience interested in understanding more of my artistic vision and style.
Throughout your artistic journey, what has been the most rewarding moment for you?
Reflecting on this year, winning the 2024 Brookfield Properties Craft Award has brought me a great sense of joy and satisfaction. More generally, the biggest reward I get from making my work and exhibiting it in the public domain is creating a visual dialogue and memory of my artworks that people can conserve and remember.
What lessons have you learned about yourself, your abilities, or life in general through your experiences as an artist?
Reflecting on my experience as an artist, I believe the biggest takeaway for me has been the capacity art has to uplift us in our everyday lives by interacting with it in our interior and exterior spaces.
What advice would you give to aspiring artists looking to make their mark in the art world, and what essential skills do you think they should develop?
I'd advise them to be curious and research to self-discover new elements to implement in their practice. Also, I feel it is important to be inspired by other art and artists. However, as artists, it's equally important to push our creativity journey to develop our personal and unique creative style.
Are there any noteworthy upcoming projects you can discuss at this time?
Over the last months, I've worked mainly for the opening of my solo show at 30 Fenchurch Street and 5&20 as winner of the 2024 Brookfield Properties Craft Award. It's really exciting to see my artworks on display in such a unique exhibiting space as Brookfield Properties glass-fronted buildings. At the moment, I'm working on some commissions and project works that I can't wait to show the public.
The [Quick] #FLODown:
Best life advice?
To be true to your art.
Last song you listened to?
Pictures by Benjamin Francis.
Last book you read?
Humanise by Thomas Heatherwick.
Can't live without...?
My boys.
What should the art world be more of and less of?
More variety and more understanding of visual art's importance and, where possible, less abuse to the Earth.
Website: halimacassell.com; Instagram: @halimacassell / @virtues_of_unity'; Twitter:@halimacassell; Facebook: HalimaCassell/ VirtuesOfUnity/; LinkedIn: halimacassell
Marie Bak Mortensen is Director of Create London. Create commissions bold, radical and socially engaged art and architecture in the public realm, collaborating with local communities to commission work that is ambitious, purposeful and useful…