Artist Profiles - Yanti Hashim - Mixed Media Artist

Background and Identity

With roots in Malaysia and over two decades of life lived between Ireland and the UK, Yanti Hashim’s creative journey has been anything but linear. Now based in the UK, she is a mixed media and visual artist whose work is deeply informed by her personal history, cultural identity, and a profound connection to the natural world. Her style leans toward the semi-abstract, with intuitive mark-making and storytelling at its heart each piece a quiet meditation on emotion, memory, and faith.

Early Career and Turning Point

Although art was always a quiet calling in her heart, Yanti initially took a more traditional path, and became a doctor. Like many from Asian backgrounds, she grappled with the expectations placed upon her around career, stability, and the role of art as a ‘hobby’ rather than a viable life path. But five years ago, after the loss of both her parents, everything changed. Art became not just a comfort but a necessity, a space of refuge and healing that helped her process grief and reconnect with her inner self.

Personal Symbolism and the Role of Flowers

Yanti’s love for flowers, a recurring motif in her work, is deeply tied to the memory of her parents. Raised in a household overflowing with blooms, she remembers how her mother adored roses and her father cherished orchids. Their home was surrounded by floral beauty, so much so that her father even put up a sign outside that read, “We do not sell flowers here,” as passersby often tried to buy them.

As a child, Yanti dreamed of becoming an artist, but her mother would ask, “How are you going to feed yourself by doing this?” And so, that dream was tucked away. Years later, after the profound grief of losing both her parents, Yanti found herself returning to flowers, not just as subject matter, but as a form of remembrance. Drawing and painting them became an extension of her love for her parents, a way to honour their memory and continue a dialogue with them.

Influence of Faith and Culture

The natural world, for Yanti, is far more than a place of visible beauty, it is a living testament to divine creation. She describes nature as a form of remembrance of Allah, where each moment spent observing its rhythms draws her closer to an awareness of its Creator. This spiritual connection is woven into her artwork, shaping the patience in her layering, the stillness in her compositions, and the humility with which she approaches each piece. Guided by her Islamic faith, she captures the beauty that invites reflection, gratitude, and a sense of awe.

Her cultural heritage adds another layer of depth to her work. Memories of her Malaysian upbringing, her years in Ireland, and her life in the UK create a subtle interplay of influences, each leaving an imprint on her visual language. The love of flowers instilled by her parents reappears in recurring motifs more than botanical studies, they become vessels of personal and collective memory. In this way, her art becomes a meeting place between the seen and unseen, where each brushstroke holds both aesthetic and spiritual intention and an offering that honours her roots, her faith, and the landscapes that she inhabits.

Artistic Medium, Direction, and Practice

Yanti’s work blends various materials, layering paint, texture, and marks in ways that reflect her emotions. She lets each piece develop naturally, guided by the flow of colour, memory, or feelings that arise as she works. While mixed media remains her primary medium, Yanti is now exploring new creative paths. She is particularly drawn to illustration for its ability to tell stories and capture subtle details, and she hopes to develop this skill as part of a professional expansion of her practice.

Her long-term goal is to become a full-time artist, creating works that resonate with and bring meaning to others. Ongoing learning and personal connection are central to her growth. Every month, she participates in dedicated sessions in London with established artist Laura Bigeye, whose thoughtful mentorship challenges and encourages her. These sessions have become a cornerstone of Yanti’s development, helping to shape her technique, sharpen her artistic vision, and open new perspectives. In addition to this, Yanti maintains a disciplined practice of completing one sketchbook each month. So far, she has completed two sketchbooks, with this routine serving both as a creative exercise and a space for free experimentation, allowing her to capture fleeting ideas and continuously evolve her visual language.

Goals and Future Plans

Yanti is focused on finding a mentor and strengthening her connections within the art world. One of her key goals is to collaborate with G39, a contemporary gallery that supports emerging artists. Through this partnership, she hopes to showcase her work to a broader audience and engage with communities where art is valued not only as creative expression, but as a powerful force for connection and growth.

Advice for Emerging Artists

Navigating a career in art can be challenging, especially within a society that often prioritises financial security over creative pursuits. Yanti speaks openly about the tension between creativity and cultural expectations. She acknowledges that the journey isn’t always easy, particularly when faced with financial pressures or the misconception that art isn’t a “real” career. However, she believes that money can’t provide the joy or fulfillment that art offers.

Her advice to emerging artists is simple: Be yourself, be patient, and take small steps. Make art a consistent practice, and over time, persistence will lead to progress. Yanti emphasizes that people will recognize the value of your work when they see your dedication. If art is your true passion, don’t wait, follow it wholeheartedly.