Ilhem Oubaiche
‘Sometimes it’s difficult to say things with words but art doesn’t need words. It expresses what I struggle to say.’
Ilhem was born in Algiers. Struggling at school with dyslexia, she found refuge in the art room.
In 2002 Ilhem made her way to London hoping to improve her English and study fashion but the streets were not paved with gold or Gaultier. Shortly after, Ilhem’s health suffered and the only solution for her was to be creative. For Ilhem, art is a way to be: everything is filtered through an artistic lens, her eyes are drawn to details, shapes and colours. Ilhem has been plagued by anxiety and depression but art has helped her find refuge from the rawness of pain.
In 2011 she gave birth to a son and returned to education in search of a path to stability, gaining a PGCE in Modern Languages.
She says: Sometimes it’s difficult to say things with words but art doesn’t need words. It expresses what I struggle to say out loud. I feel the happiest when I create or express my emotions ( sadness too) into a piece or a poem or a song … my art is evolving and taking me towards a freer and more intuitive place that helps me get away from perfectionism (in my case perfectionism leads to eating disorders, having high expectations on my self ) this is helping me to let go and realise it’s ok to not be perfect.
See more of Ilhem’s work on Instagram: @il_m_art
