Javed Saddique

My name is Javed Saddique and I am a freelance artist and a trainee teacher of art. I work as  freelancer under the business name IMIJS Art studio. I embarked on my journey and became reacquainted with my love for art in 2015. I wanted to help kids of all backgrounds learn more about other faiths through art and colouring books. My idea was to help encourage children to learn easily but at the same time spark an interest and passion in people of all ages, especially in the pakistani community. It was for them to find an interest, feel comfort and love for art. A means of therapy for the elderly. 

I sold the colouring books in my local and wider community. Soon after, as word of mouth got about, I found myself being commissioned to create art in homes and then mosques and then businesses and charities etc. My art work consists of mural art, calligraphy, sculptures, 3d sculpted murals and bespoke interior and furniture. I have been commissioned by local businesses, mosques from around the country and done community work with scouts clubs and in charity events.

The vision for IMIJS Art studio has always been to host a network of freelance artists working within it. I initially started IMIJS art studios off in the basement of the former kings hall building on Kings street, oldham in 2016. This was when the building was setup in to units, perfect for small businesses. I took advantage of this after I had a eureka moment to take the desire to drive an interest, love and respect for islamic art into the community. I went from trying to educate and reach out to young children about art to trying to persuade the older generations in the community. The unit in Kings hall was seen as the first of its kind art studio in a public space or town centre. The concept was so unique customers asked if they were allowed to enter the unit. 

IMIJS art studios are to be imagined as a studio in a public space, in town and city centres which have artists working and creating artwork in front of clients and the public. A shop or store if you like, except it's an artists studio. IMIJS Art Studios introduce something new to our towns, especially as we are seeing a vast number of empty redundant stores with the shift of trade over to the online sector. We are faced with empty spaces. We need to fill them with services which appeal and that attract people to be outgoing and communal again. IMIJS Art studios offers the opportunities for public workshops, art lessons, galleries and a change to the atmosphere to help people cope with stress, anxiety, mental illness, develop social skills, networking and more. It allows for special art visits for students and a place to physically gain work experience and apprenticeship. It also allows artists to find each other to work collaboratively and for the public to reach out and commission a unique piece of artwork to be created for their personal or public space. These are working art studios with artists of different art forms in a public area.