Laxmi Hussain

Laxmi is a London based artist producing original artwork, mostly in ink which is inspired by the female body that falls between the abstract and the realistic. She lives in London with her husband and three children.

How are you feeling about things in general at the minute? 

I’m feeling quite good. I have a very positive outlook in general, and even when things are tough, I’m always looking for the bright side of things that are going on around me. Unfortunately, this summer has been quite unproductive, me being self-employed for the first time and spending the entire summer with my kids. Still, September and Autumn always make me feel motivated to start afresh with new inspirations.

What for you were some of the difficulties of the last 18 months that you’d be comfortable discussing? 

I had my third child in June 2020, my baby is also the only child I had without my (late) mother, so it was particularly isolating. I could relate to everyone who wasn’t able to see their loved ones, except there was no “hope” for me to be able to see her once the pandemic was over. 

I was incredibly close to my mum. Being a motherless mother is particularly painful. Missing my mother’s support has been difficult. You underestimate the power of having that; whether through the local community or friends and family, it doesn’t matter how many times you’ve become a mother.

Was there something or someone in particular that helped ease the stress?

Certainly being around my children so much more, enjoying what felt like an extended maternity and really breathing that all in. My husband and I have never had this much time to enjoy being together, just talking endlessly (I know it sounds really cheesy). Still, I can’t remember any time we’ve really been able to communicate so much before. 

As my husband returned to work and the kids to school, my art was really what kept me going, being able to express myself and explore. I’d certainly be lost without it.

Have you received any really good life/work/spiritual advice or guidance lately?

My husband always reminds me that I can’t do it all. I tend to try and do way more than is necessary, and I often burn out and get angry and frustrated. Sometimes, although it seems unproductive, taking stock, having time to rest and relax is way more productive than trying to fit everything in. 

How has your experience of the last 18 months influenced your work?

I've turned more inward. I made a list of the things I wanted to explore, and I'm slowly working through some of those things. 

I'm exploring motherhood. I absolutely love being a mother, and I really want to express that through my work. Things can appear easy from afar because you only display the elements of a situation you enjoy. Motherhood is testing, it is hard, but I also find it so rewarding and love all the ways it pushes you out of your comfort zone and how that influences other elements of your world.

How has the last 18 months influenced your outlook on life moving forward? 

It has made me appreciate less is more. We've been still for a long time, and many of us have had to think outside of the box to recreate the things we previously enjoyed. It could be dining alfresco in the garden to feel like we’re abroad, finding new ways to entertain ourselves/ or the kids, even approaching the same walk-around-the-block by taking a polaroid camera along etc. So I want to be more resourceful moving forward.

What is your cultural balm for when you're feeling overwhelmed 

Definitely my art, and within that, it would be painting.

I love painting. I love the whole process from concept to preparing my tools, right down to the cleanup and then varnishing a painting. It's quite a mindful activity for me, but something that makes me slow down, prepare for each stage and approach it with calm and patience. 

Nothing about this process is fast, and I think that does wonders for my soul and body.

Is there a dish you always turn to when you need comfort? 

Haha, my husband is not a big fan of Filipino food, but my mum is from the Philippines, and it’s what I grew up eating so, it would be chicken adobo which is a soy sauce based dish flavoured with garlic, peppercorns, bay and a slight tang, usually from vinegar. It's very humble, in my opinion, but it feels like home and coming home to my mum cooking.

What gives you hope? 

So many things, but mostly my children. They make me a better person because I want to teach and nurture good in them so that they will give that good back into the world.

@thislakshmi

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