This Muslim woman's nude portraits of herself will make you love your body more

There's no greater love than self-love.

Dipannita Saha Dipannita Saha
मार्च 18, 2017
It all comes down to loving yourself, just the way you are. Photo: Hiba Schahbaz

How many times have you looked at yourself in the shower and criticized the way your body looks? If you muttered everyday under your breath, then this artist will surely change the way you look at yourself.

For Muslim artist Hiba Schahbaz, drawing nudes was a different challenge altogether. She grew up in Pakistan, which made it impossible for her to find a woman who would pose as her subject. So she did, what anyone would do, she made herself the subject of her sketches.

In an interview to The Huffington Post, she said that in her preteen years, she stood naked before her mirror, pen and paper in hand, and outlined the shape of her physical form. "Women painting themselves naked is seen as very unholy," she said.

Photo: Hiba Schahbaz Photo: Hiba Schahbaz

To save face, Schahbaz primarily painted women without faces, so their likenesses wouldn't immediately recall her own.

Although her paintings have a political bent, her motivations have always been primarily personal. "I think I've spent like 90 percent of my life trying to accept that I'm a female and that's OK. I was always a very emotionally closed-off person. I think painting gave me emotional contact with myself," she explained.

Also read: From Internet addiction to Photoshop, here's why women grow up hating their bodies

The artists tries to focus on sensuality, bravery, and an abundance of self-love through her paintings. She wants to challenge the history of men assuming control of women's bodies through her work.

Photo: Hiba Schahbaz Photo: Hiba Schahbaz

"I think just having some acceptance has been a really big deal for me. I didn't grow up with feminism, so I have just constantly been told that what I'm doing is really wrong," she said.

Schahbaz also said that she has been taught to hide, be ashamed of herself, her body and who she is. "Having people in the art world accept that I am a female who has a body who is painting it, it really means a lot."

Photo: Hiba Schahbaz Photo: Hiba Schahbaz

So ladies, it all comes down to loving yourself. Choose whatever way you have to, but remember there is no greater love than self-love. Let this artist be your inspiration to look at yourself in the better light. Start from today, because you are amazing!

 

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