“In a world of fleeting trends where Urdu fades like whispers, artist Sadaf Samreen clings to this sher (couplet) as her guiding mission. She’s determined to keep this language, rich in grace and profound in meaning, alive. Her tool? Digital art—a unique medium to ensure Urdu doesn’t slip into obscurity.”
“Sadaf’s connection to Urdu began in her childhood, lovingly cultivated by her father, who deeply cherished the language. From correcting her pronunciation to taking her to mushairah gatherings and reading her her grandfather’s Urdu books, he planted the seeds of a passion that still thrives today. ‘I owe it to my dad for fostering this love for Urdu,’ Sadaf reflects. His influence remains so strong that even now, he shares Urdu articles and magazines with her, weaving the language into their daily lives.
Blending Urdu and Digital Art
While Sadaf’s roots in Urdu were strong, it was only when she started an Instagram account, @Mussaafir, dedicated to Urdu aesthetics that she discovered a new way to share her passion with a wider audience. Initially just a platform to celebrate the beauty of Urdu script and Hyderabadi culture, her page soon became something much larger.”
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“As Sadaf explored digital tools, her creative process began to transform. While she’d always admired the art of traditional calligraphy, digital art unlocked new possibilities, enabling her to experiment effortlessly with fonts, colors, and layouts. ‘Traditional calligraphy is irreplaceable,’ Sadaf says, ‘but the digital medium simplifies the process, allowing me to create similar effects without needing a full setup.’ The digital platform, she adds, is also more forgiving, encouraging experimentation and creative freedom.”
The Unique Process
Inspired by fellow artists on Instagram, Sadaf dove into the world of digital art, experimenting with various brushes and software like Sketchbook, Infinite Painter, and Adobe Fresco to craft her distinctive pieces. She found herself particularly drawn to vintage themes, often weaving in poetry or iconic phrases that deeply resonated with her—like the sher that drives her mission. Through these digital techniques, Sadaf has been able to merge her love for Urdu with a modern, artistic twist.
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experiment with different brushes and styles until I’m satisfied with the colors and text arrangement,” Sadaf shares with Siasat.com. “Vintage themes always speak to me, so I lean toward them. Sometimes I add shadows to make the text stand out more.”
Her digital collages became a fusion of text and visual elements, each piece reflecting the mood of the phrase it carried, inviting her followers on a visual journey through the world of Urdu. “For collages, I start with an element I really connect with and build the design around it, often following a specific color scheme. It’s like journaling, but digitally instead of on paper,” she adds.
As Sadaf’s work evolved into a more artistic form, the response from her followers grew increasingly positive. People began to engage more with her posts, with many even requesting prints and mobile wallpapers of her art. This digital reinvention of Urdu resonated particularly with her younger audience, who are more attuned to technology and digital platforms, making the language more accessible and appealing to them.
Sadaf sees her work as a bridge between tradition and modernity, firmly believing that digital art can play a crucial role in preserving the Urdu language. “Digital art can certainly act as a catalyst for reviving Urdu. If something is visually captivating, it sparks curiosity, and the rest is taken care of by the inherent beauty of the language itself,” she explains. Through her creative approach, Sadaf hopes to inspire a new generation to embrace and celebrate Urdu.
“ye aur baat ki andhi hamare bas mein nahin,
magar charagh jalana to iḳhtiyar mein hai”
For Sadaf, this ‘charagh’ represents the enduring vibrance of Urdu, and her digital art is the way she keeps it burning brightly. Through her work, she illuminates the beauty of the language, ensuring it continues to shine in the digital age.
