INTERVIEW WITH:
AISHA HANAN BUHARI
Capturing the Unseen: Aisha Hanan Buhari’s Exploration of Freedom and Cultural Storytelling
Aisha Hanan Buhari’s photography and video art are more than just visual narratives—they are acts of preservation, storytelling, and healing.
In this interview with Cluster London, she shares how her father’s love of photography influenced her perspective, how she balances personal introspection with cultural storytelling, and how her humanitarian work aligns with her artistic vision. By embracing simplicity and minimalism, Aisha ensures that her work is both deeply rooted in Fulani heritage and accessible to global audiences.
ENDUD’O
SHAHID’O
Hi Aisha! Your work often explores themes like freedom, secrecy, and identity. How do you balance personal introspection with cultural storytelling in your photography and video art?
Personal introspection enables me to draw from my own experiences, emotions, and identity, providing a foundation of authenticity for my art. This introspection sets the standard for how I approach cultural storytelling. For example, when addressing the theme of secrecy in my work, I begin by reflecting on my own fears and vulnerabilities before connecting them to broader, collective experiences of marginalization or suppression within a cultural context. Ultimately, my aim is to create work that is both deeply personal and universally relatable, allowing viewers to see reflections of themselves and their own stories in my art.
How do you navigate the tension between preserving Fulani cultural identity in your work and making it accessible to international audiences who may not be familiar with it?
I navigate this tension by focusing on making my work visually striking and photogenic, ensuring it captures the beauty of Fulani culture with simplicity. By embracing minimalism, I create art that highlights the essence of the culture, making it both captivating and accessible to international audiences who may not be familiar with it.
DADA
VANGI
Could you walk us through your creative process for a project like Mi Faddi? How do you integrate cultural elements, such as the nautilus shells, with your broader artistic vision?
When I started Mi Faddi, my goal was to create a work that involved my family while ensuring their privacy remained intact. This is where the theme of secrecy became central to the project. I asked my siblings to wear their favorite traditional outfits and used a simple backdrop to highlight their presence while intentionally concealing their identities.
RED BEADS
BAUCHI
Your father’s love of photography inspired you as a child. How has his influence evolved in your current practice, and do you see echoes of his perspective in your work?
My father's love for photography, especially how he used and valued it during his time in the military, instilled in me a deep respect for cultural preservation. His dedication to safeguarding his military photographs taught me the importance of preserving culture and history through images, a perspective that continues to shape my work today.
Your foundation combines art therapy with psychological support for survivors of sexual violence. How does this humanitarian mission influence your creative practice, and vice versa?
My creative work has significantly influenced my humanitarian mission, rather than the other way around. For instance, the photographs I used to launch my foundation featured individuals with their faces obscured using gold paint, while others were asked to turn their backs to ensure their privacy. While it’s challenging to pinpoint how the humanitarian mission has shaped my creative practice so far, it’s clear that my artistic methods seamlessly align with the imagery and approach used to establish the foundation. Interestingly, I haven’t created any new series since the foundation’s launch, which highlights the strong connection between my earlier work and the foundation's mission.
JALNID’O
“I hope my work will inspire individuals, particularly those from communities where cultural heritage has been insufficiently preserved or documented, to take pride in their identities and contribute to preserving their histories.”
PERTUD’O
As an artist whose work spans personal, cultural, and humanitarian realms, what do you see as the ultimate goal of your practice in the years to come?
One of my ultimate goals is for my work to serve as a valuable resource for schools and institutions. My passion for cultural preservation forms the foundation of this ambition, and I envision students engaging with my work as a source of cultural heritage and historical insight. Additionally, I hope my work will inspire individuals, particularly those from communities where cultural heritage has been insufficiently preserved or documented, to take pride in their identities and contribute to preserving their histories.
The Cluster platform connects creatives with diverse audiences. How do you see your work contributing to conversations about culture, identity, and healing within such a space?
My work contributes to conversations about culture, identity, and healing by bridging personal narratives with shared experiences. Through photography and video art, I explore themes like freedom, secrecy, and identity, using my creative practice to preserve and showcase the richness of Fulani culture in ways that resonate with diverse audiences. By focusing on simplicity and minimalism, I make these cultural narratives accessible while maintaining their authenticity.
On platforms like Cluster, my work fosters dialogue about cultural identity by highlighting the importance of preservation and storytelling. Additionally, my humanitarian mission, which combines art therapy with psychological support for survivors of sexual violence, demonstrates the power of art to facilitate healing and create safe spaces for expression.
Ultimately, my practice seeks to inspire reflection, connection, and empathy, offering a space where audiences can engage with culture and identity while discovering the potential of art as a tool for healing and transformation.
MOUID’O
Thank you for reading,
Alexandra, Ema & the Cluster Team.