I have been blessed every saturday with local talents that blow my mind with their creative buzzing brains.

A dear reader, Ansam, introduced me to the wonderful, oh so talented, out of the box genius Dr.Shurooq Amin. She is the new definition of a woman who is a work in progress. At the age of 41 (yes, she’s not shy) reached everything a woman could ask for, yet you can sense her hunger for more and more bigger and better things to come.

She is a mother, daughter, teacher (KU’s University), artist, painter, former ballet dancer, top student, diver, gun-shooter, horse rider, interior designer and a writer.

Get to know her more, NOW!

Shurooq, introduce yourself to the universe ?

My name is Shurooq Amin (title is Dr, and I worked damn hard for that, getting it when I already had 3 of my 4 kids, so yeah, I’m proud of it!). I got my BA in English Literature from Kuwait University because my mother wouldn’t allow me to travel to the UK on scholarship to study Fine Arts, on account of my young age (I graduated from the New English School at 16 years of age). Then I got my Master’s degree in English Literature, specializing in Modern Poetry. I didn’t continue with my PhD right away because of the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait, so I came back home, got married, had my first kid, worked at Kuwait University teaching, then actually wrote my first poetry book, first novel, and had my first solo art exhibition. It’s only years later, 3 kids later, that I decided I wanted to re-apply for my PhD, and I worked on it for 3 years while being married, with kids, a home to run, and a teaching job in the morning. Not only did I get it done in 3 years only, but I was also chosen as the Valedictorian of my university and gave a speech at Graduation on behalf of all the Phd students.

I’m also one of the few women you’ll meet who will be proud to shout out their age FORTY ONE, ‘cos I feel more beautiful, more successful, more energetic, with far more accomplishments than before, and much more to come !

I’ve always been hyper-driven with energy, creativity, and ambition, always wanting to try everything and taste everything, so my interests range diversely from ballet dancing (which I did from the age of 7 to 18) horseback-riding in the valleys and hills of Brazilia; gun shooting (I’ve been told by the instructor that I’m a natural at that) scuba diving (I have 2 licenses, one from PADI and one from NAUI, starting from basic Open-water to Advanced night-diving) interior-decorating (I have a degree in that, and I’ve specialized in Feng Shui consultation, because I believe strongly in its principles) pilates (Madonna was right, it really keeps my body looking good); music, reading, painting, writing…Oh, yes, and of course driving or should I say maneuvering my car (Porsche Carrera S: it’s an amazing engine, I drive it like a guy). You know what? You should ask me if there’s anything I’m NOT interested in. That would be easy, actually its cooking and anything domestic.

Q: What inspired you to tap into who you are now ?

I guess my dad inspired me, because he made me believe that I could do anything and have anything if I set my mind to it and worked hard for it. He was very creative and gave me a sophisticated start to life, taking me to see the Bolshoi ballet in Moscow, theater in London, bull-fighting in Madrid, museums all over Europe. He died suddenly of a heart-attack when I was 11, he died in front of me in the living room on the first day of Eid. I held his hand as it turned from warm to icy cold, and watched the white froth spill from his mouth down his cheek. It was my introduction to death, and really shaped my art, my poetry, and my entire psyche for the future – though I had no idea at the time.

Q: Do you adapt your artistry on yourself ? if so, how did it change you ?
I’m not sure I understand the question, but it sure sounds clever. If you mean the relationship between Shurooq the artist and Shurooq the woman, then I can tell you that the two are inwardly the same, though in exterior different. In other words, Shurooq the artist lives inside Shurooq the woman and rules her thinking; even though some people (like my university students) may see a tough, practical exterior. It’s just the hard shell that protects me from a society that doesn’t understand unorthodox creativity.

Q: Any difficulties along the way ?
All the time, every step of the way. People don’t like to see others succeed. There are people who envy you, people who think they’re in constant competition. Honestly, how exhausting! I’ve had to jump over one obstacle and another all my life. You must remember that I was an Arab Muslim girl, struggling between the ideologies of marriage/domesticity and inner intellectual/existentialism. I still do. And that struggle manifests in my paintings and my poetry, which is usually controversial and complex. Or so I’ve read But you know what? Success is all the more sweet and meaningful when you’ve gone through a load of B.S.

Q: Support ? family & friends ?
I do have great support from my family; they believe in me because they know how consistent I am and how determined. I’m an artist with staying power; I’m not one of those artists that has just one or two exhibitions and then disappears. I’ve been painting and exhibiting since I was 10 years old. I’m planning to paint and exhibit till I can’t see or hold a brush anymore. I also have the support of my kids – they don’t make me feel guilty for leaving them for hours on end while I work in my studio; or when I travel to art fairs. My husband is usually supportive, but he could get fed up of my endless energy and ambition, it’s hard for anyone to catch up with me, I suppose.

Q: Where do you see yourself 5 years from now ?
In 5 years I should be famous on an international level as both artist and poet. I would have exhibited in both London and New York, and published 2 more books.

Q: Talk about your upcoming event? What to expect ?

Beats me! It’s my first Pecha Kucha experience, I actually didn’t attend the first one that they had in Kuwait a few months back, though I did check it out on YouTube. You can expect to see something simultaneously philosophical/educational and amusing/entertaining; Pecha Kucha has the gift of that paradox: it’s fun, yet didactic. It’s also extremely creative and innovative.

Q: Throw something for p0ach readers.

I don’t want to sound preachy, but here are some of my own life mottos, stuff that I live by and say to my kids:

Stop complaining about it and get up and DO something about it instead.
Be punctual, being late is NOT cool.

If you feel like crap today, go with the flow all the way, don’t fight it. Eat ice cream, krispy kremes or whatever you fancy (it’s serotonin food, good-mood food); watch mindless TV; do whatever. Enjoy the laziness. Just make sure tomorrow you get up with the intention to have a fabulous day. Begin your day with a “thank you” to God, that he gave you legs to walk on, eyes to see with, etc.That should put things into perspective. Humans tend to forget these basic things.

Visualization is a powerful tool: visualise the life you want, and you’ll get it. But that doesn’t mean laying on your behind waiting for the phone to ring either.

Go out and meet her in person at her event here:

Contact:
Tel: 66613310
Email: shurooqamin@hotmail.com
www.shurooqamin.com
Shurooq’s Art Consultancy.

Have a look at other pics from her gallery:

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