Meet Kamila Erkaboyeva | Artist, Influencer, Small Business Owner

We had the good fortune of connecting with Kamila Erkaboyeva and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Kamila, can you tell us more about your background and the role it’s played in shaping who you are today?
“No tree grows without it’s roots” – a sentence that struck me, when I was 23 and trying to figure out which culture I belong to. I was always somewhere in the middle. I was born and raised in Uzbekistan, Central Asia. My mother is Russian with Cossack roots, my father is an Uzbek from the Fergana Valley. Growing up in the mixed household, we always celebrated Eid, Christmas, Easter. We loved a good feast until I immigrated to London, when I was 11 years old. That’s when it got even more complicated and blurry. I was bullied for not speaking English properly, then for my accent, then for the fact that I was very pale. I didn’t think being pale is something weird, everyone is pretty pale in Fergana Valley. It was a special gene that run in our family. The need to blend in the new western culture became my survival skill. Although I visited Uzbekistan quite often during teenage years, I started losing my roots, my mother language and my sense of culture identity. It wasn’t easy for me to find a Russian speaking teenager in London, let alone another Uzbek until I got into university. At the age of 23 is when I realised I have three conflicting cultures within me, and I tried to find a way to express it, which is when my art became a bridge. Bridge between myself and other third culture kids. I express and celebrate through my art work, my style, my social media platforms. Growing up I often felt that I had to tick a box, you’re either this, or you’re either that. You’re either Russian, or you’re either Uzbek. If you don’t speak the language, then you’re Western. If you don’t drink or eat certain Western foods, then you’re Eastern. I refused to comply. I want to be my own, and represent my identity in my own way, rather than letting someone else to decide this.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
I started drawing when I was 7, and it was mostly because I wanted to be a successful Architect just like my eldest uncle. My dad noticed my passion for art, and found me teachers to teach me different techniques throughout years before I immigrated to London. On one of my visits to Uzbekistan as a teenager, I was doing a project for my art class, and dad quickly looked through my sketches mentioning ” I don’t understand this. Can you draw Allah (God)? Can you draw love? Can you draw death? I don’t see the emotions. It’s not giving me anything”…and that’s when the journey started. Without realising, dad pushed me to express my emotions through art. Having thousands of conflicts inside of me through years, and not really having a healthy way to express my thoughts and emotions – art became my bridge. Consistent bridge, which not only between myself and my emotions, but also between myself and others. The more I started posting and exposing myself to the world on social media platforms, the more I was receiving. People often expressed their own stories to me, and what my art work meant to them. Something I draw resonates with them, whether it’s something they’re going through, or a memory of a loved one. I often felt isolated and alone growing up. I didn’t have a healthy way of expressing what is inside of me with words, but I had my paints, my pencils and my paintbrushes and that was enough. Each story which is shared with me, I hold very very close.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
Does it have to be London? Can it be about Istanbul? If yes, then let’s dig in!

Istanbul is the first city ever, where I travelled to solo. I always say that my first love wasn’t the love for a man, it was for a city! I always met the most interesting and inspiring characters in Istanbul, whether it’s other tourists, locals or immigrants. Istanbul is somewhere between old and new, west and east, welcoming yet hectic. Just like London and Tashkent for me.
I would start of with having a traditional breakfast at the small café located in the Yenikoy area called ‘Emek cafe’ Not only will you be welcomed with countless cups of tea, but also a charming view of the Bosphorus. It’s very well known amongst the locals (they will hate that I shared this secret place with others) I would then go for a walk to burn all the calories along the Bosphorus until I catch a ferry to the Kuzguncuk – the East. Kuzguncuk is famous for it’s vibrancy as well as artsy side. One of the seven hills of Istanbul is in Kuzguncuk, and it gives you the most beautiful view of Istanbul. There are small little cafes owned by the locals, where I often ordered portion of manti. You can also often catch a filming crew in the area! I would then stroll to Kadikoy, the hipster neighbourhood well known for it’s jazz bars, art houses, and great vibes.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
You’re a product of your own environment. It’s a very well known fact. Who you choose to surround yourself with also builds your own reality, your thoughts and your energy. I started off my art account with just my friends following me out of curtesy. Although I’ve been drawing ever since I was 7, I didn’t believe someone would be interested enough to buy my art work. Most of my art work comes with my own personal heavy baggage, which isn’t always seen to the naked eye straight away. On one of my birthdays, a group of close friends all chipped in and gifted me a lovely sum as my first ‘angel investment’ as a birthday present to go towards my brand. This is when I got proactive and truly went for ‘Arty Numpty.’ Soon after, I started gaining more followers, started posting more about my story, started reaching out to people that inspire me on social media platforms and started collaborating online. I created my own community, and became an influencer without realising. Although I’m still a small business, I know the support is there. It started with my dear friends, who saw something I didn’t.

Website: www.artynumpty.com

Instagram: @artynumpty

Twitter: @artynumpty

Image Credits
@sabinna_com @beni.lab @niancanard @travelwithsevi @shootwithsevi