We were lucky to catch up with Musa Ghaznavi recently and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Musa, thanks for joining us today. Are you happy as a creative professional? Do you sometimes wonder what it would be like to work for someone else?

I have that thought quite regularly. I studied economics for a semester before dropping out. I went back home to Pakistan and started working short gigs in the arts. It didn’t always pay the greatest, but the were plenty of opportunities and the people were usually a lot of fun to work with.

I did that for about a year and a half before going to Vermont to get a Bachelor’s and then to Chicago for my Master’s. Over the past 6 years that thought has crossed my mind quite often. What would have happened if I finished that economics degree? Or what would have happened if I went to art school to begin with? Who knows!

What I do know is that I enjoy having an artistic practice and being in the midst of a community of artists and creatives.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers

I am Musa Ghaznavi, a Pakistani artist, designer, and actor currently based in Chicago. I started my artistic journey as a painter, actor, film maker, designer and then, most recently, a sculptor. Sculpture is what is taking up most of my time these days. I find the process quite therapeutic in that you get to constantly see your visual progress. Almost like seeing something come to life. I use my sculptural practice as a means of exploring the permeability of time and filtered media.

A lot of the work I make has to do identity, the body and challenging audiences to consider the embodied effects of migration. I believe that by using performance and design in my work, I am able to blur the lines between mediums and move freely between these ideas and spaces.

For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?

It’s probably being part of a community that is vibrant and supportive. As an artist you’re constantly learning, wether it be new techniques or honing old ones, and so being part of a community of artists and creatives allows you to always be learning from those around you. I also feel like we want to see each other succeed more than people in other fields, probably because most of us share in the suspense of uncertainty that comes with the job.

We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?

Not working on just one project at a time. Having multiple projects going on at the same time can be hectic but it is much better than the frustration you meet when stuck on something with your only project. It takes a while to get used to but once you’ve got the hang of it, it’s a lot more efficient. Having a calendar that you keep up to date is useful so you don’t forget deadlines. Also it opens up the possibility of new ideas when you do get stuck. Often I’ll find solution to a problem when working on a different project. It’s a lot of fun when that happens!

Contact Info:

• Website: mmng.studio
• Instagram: caliphofcool

Image Credits
B&W Photos of artist in studio – Kevin Michael Briggs