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Samira Idroos, 24, decided early on that the key to understanding people’s differences is to see how they express themselves creatively. She was born and raised in Los Angeles and currently studies painting in San Francisco. She also educates Muslim youth through Elev8, a nonprofit she has been volunteering with since the age of 17.
To address the identity crisis some Muslim youth feel in the aftermath of 9/11, Samira wanted to empower them to explain themselves creatively rather than become victims of misperceptions. Through Elev8, she encourages them to look to other minority communities in Los Angeles for examples.
“They can see how other communities have used art to tell their stories and understand the context of Muslims in the fabric of the city,” she says. As a Muslim from a family with Sri Lankan origins, she says that her individual experiences reveal themselves through her artwork.
“Everyone has a unique story,” she says, emphasizing that a person or a group’s history impacts the way they understand and put their beliefs into practice. “Islam is seen through a Christian lens in the U.S., but since my family is from Sri Lanka, they practice it through a Buddhist one, with less emphasis on rites and traditions and more on morals,” she says.
As an American Muslim, Samira views her thoughts on her religious identity through both lenses. An installation artist, she is currently exploring abstract techniques within a theme of history. “History is layers,” she says, seeking to explore how layers can add to perceptions of one’s identity.
Is there a direct connection between her beliefs and her art?
“The Q’uran is an art form which speaks to people through its creativity,” says Samira. “My work is Islamic, and my art is my chance to tell my story.”
See Samira's work at SamiraIdroos.com
Posted September 2007
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