Browse 10 of our favourite adventures in artistry that was displayed across Instagram this October curated solely from Maldivian talents as they celebrate #Inktober circa stunning 30-day digital collections.
Since it began all the way back in 2009, every October artists from all over the world have flooded our Instagram, and sometimes by association Facebook, newsfeeds with amazing paintings, sketchings, drawings and illustrations, following a different prompt for every day, and thus showing us how the same subject can take different or similar forms, no matter where you come from.
There are no rules, other than it must be in ink and the posts must feature the official hashtags. And so begins a 30-day marathon of INK-POST-REPEAT!
The movement gained popularity in Maldives fairly recently, with 2016 and 2017 seeing a massive number of participants. This year, The Edition decided to write about our favourites, and as hard as it is to whittle down so much talent to a listing of 10, we have brought our readers a selection of artists we feel must not be missed.
Selections were made amongst nominations from all members of The Edition team, with guidance from the art and culture specialists on board. Enjoy the flash back to Instagram's October 2018!
It’s hard not to get lost in the world of Maisha’s drawings, as she crafts portraits with unwavering flair and a touch of pointillism. This October, the feed curated by a darling of the Maldivian creative community well known for her detailed, creative and often Maldivian-esque drawings, took an inspiring turn seemingly drawing from societal discourse and discord.
Bringing to life fantastical and smoulderingly dark illustrations with just a twinge of the macabre, Jille’s work is as fine as it is imaginative. For fans of his work, stay tuned for news of his upcoming gallery - it seems December is the month to follow this artist and perhaps even own one of his unforgettable ink creations… or even finer strokes of paint, as the case may be.
Although Minnu’s inktober was interrupted, and that too by the happiest of reasons, she did leave her fans with some signature style creations to ponder upon. Rocking what seems to be a magical surrealist vibe, her art walks the line between simplicity and profound thought with finesse.
Crafting sketches that often incorporate multiple elements, Fyzan’s Inktober seamlessly switches between fine intricacies like that of Indian mandalas to humanoid portraits that subtly colour wafts of personality, even playing around with minimalistic line drawings. It may surprise you to know this creative soul is the grandson of a Maldivian art legend, but while the talent is perhaps carried in the genes, these art pieces come together in a style far too unique to be anything but his own.
We love artists that weave between styles and aren’t defined by too many rules. Though she seems to draw most of her inspiration from Japanese animation, Shara’s infusions of quirky ‘Dhivehi’ humour makes her work a favourite amongst 90s babies. However, it is the undeniable talent she displays in crafting her posts that brings her onto our list. If you haven’t checked her out yet, it’s well worth your time - and if you caught some inktober earlier, then a revisit is needed, as many of the doodles have been doused in color since!
Like pages straight out of a fashion magazine, sophistication seemingly drips off of Sam’s feed. Her confident and elegant use of broad brushstrokes along with fine lines of detail brings her portraits to live in glorious monochrome. From the expressions of her subjects to her approach is strikingly cutting edge, perhaps art reflecting life.
The youngest lad listed, Raad’s comedic depictions inspired by Maldivian folklore certainly embodies the true spirit of Inktober with his creativity, originality and the raw emotion in his sketching. Not only does he draw on real experiences and cultural heritage, each piece better than the other, his feed over the weeks is also a true coming of age journey of an artist who is certainly set to take the Maldivian art community by storm, and soon.
Rifga’s whimsical drawings, inspired by pop culture are breath of fresh air. It is hard not to want to carry tiny popsicle pieces of her ideas around and for those wishing to, dm her and she may oblige! Though there is a decidedly catchy, humorous style to her work, the popularity of her feed must be attributed to absolute artistic talent and a knack for exceedingly pretty imagery.
Creative, innovative and mostly intuitive, Jauna Nafiz's inktober series is, indeed, a treat to devour. While black and white to the naked eye, it is powerful enough to nourish one's mind, marinating your senses with joy excitement and pulsing curiosity. Insatiable interest in the inner workings of Jauna's artistic mind gives way to the popularity of her art. One visit to her Instagram feed, a dose of realism and understated poignant later, and you are sure to find yourself going back for more.
This very dhivehi artists' handle loosely translates to 'Salt Water Studio' and as any Maldivian can tell you, island life is a salty one! While this Instagram feed certainly is amongst a growing community of artists that draw on the cultural heritage of Maldives, the uniqueness that sets Lonufen Studio apart lies in the striking combination of influences in meticulously crafted art pieces. Ranging from lacquer work, stone carvings to the dhivehi alphabet, traditional symbols are woven in with modern elements to leave a lasting impression.
Thanks to #InktoberMV and #InktoberMV2018, our team stumbled on a fantastic collection of Maldivan art and talent, many of whom we wish we could have included. To end the list with 10 instagrammers - well, the struggle was real. However, the artists we have listed here are the ones to watch, and their doodles proved unforgettable.
Nevertheless, it is wonderful to think that this is what artists come up with in their free time, just for fun - must mean great things for the future of art. Can’t wait to see what treasures it holds - until next october at least!
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