The universe of Sharifa Sharafkhodjaeva

Artist Sharifa Sharafkhodjaeva is a mediator between the inner and outer, between pain and light, between art and the viewer. Her installations speak in a hushed voice about what matters, awakening emotions that are hard to put into words. Inspired by nature, music, people, and their stories, she transforms personal experiences into objects imbued with light and meaning.

Her social project “Art Heals”, in which Sharifa works with children battling cancer, helps them process their emotions and restores hope through creativity.In this interview, she shares her inner compass, rituals of inspiration, the philosophy of gentle resistance, and her belief that art is not an escape from reality, but a direct encounter with it.

ELLE: Do you remember the moment you first felt that art was your true calling?Yes, it was during the creation of my first installation – The Cube. At the time, I was working at the Gallery of Fine Arts of Uzbekistan and had the rare opportunity to observe how viewers didn’t just look at my work but engaged in dialogue with it. Some stood still, some smiled, some whispered to themselves, and others examined it as if searching for hidden meaning.

It was a magical energy exchange. I realized that art isn’t just about form – it’s a feeling that’s passed on without words. That’s when I first knew: yes, this is my calling – to provoke thought, awaken emotion, ignite inner movement.

ELLE: Your work often carries subtle emotion and philosophical depth. What usually becomes the starting point for your creations?It often begins with internal anxiety – a spark born from observing the world. It could be a personal experience, a story I heard, a dream, or even a passing phrase.

I see the world as a canvas brimming with meaning, and my task as an artist is to capture those meanings and translate them into form. Sometimes it's painful, sometimes joyful – but always honest. For me, art is not an escape – it’s a face-to-face encounter with reality in its most stripped-down truth.

ELLE: Is inspiration a matter of chance or discipline? Where do you find it most – in nature, music, or people?

As a child, inspiration is like the wind – light, defiant, everywhere and nowhere at once. You just live and create. But with age, you learn not to wait for inspiration like a fickle muse, but to invite it through effort. For me, inspiration has become a union of discipline and belief. I simply go to my studio, light a candle, pour a coffee, and sit down to work. And that’s when the alchemy begins: in the sound of wind, the rustle of pages, a fleeting shadow – suddenly you catch that spark. Sometimes it hides in a glance, sometimes in a flower blooming that morning. The key is to be ready for the encounter.

ELLE: Tell us a bit about your creative atmosphere. What surrounds you when you work?

My home is an extension of my soul. It breathes with me. Every corner is filled with meaning: drawings, old books, ceramics, dried herbs, artworks by friends. One special place is my garden, designed and grown by my husband.

It’s not just flower beds – they are living paintings that inspire and soothe. I also have a special assistant – my cat Michelangelo, or Mickey for short. He lounges nearby, seemingly approving of my ideas just with his presence. It’s here, in the coziness, with the aroma of coffee and the soft scratch of brushes, that my worlds are born.

ELLE: How important is the support of your family?

Family is my compass. The anchor that keeps me grounded and the wings that let me soar.

They are my energetic vessel, especially in moments of internal silence. We are like a team, where everyone knows: one person’s creativity is everyone’s joy. We even have a family motto: Sharafxodjayevi forever! – It’s more than words, it’s our formula for love, loyalty, and support.

ELLE: We know your husband is also involved in your art. How does his participation influence your path as an artist?

My husband and I are not just family – we’re a union of two creative forces. We’ve known each other for 25 years and have been married for 21. He’s not an artist by profession, but his heart was defenseless before art, and art won!He’s now an installation artist himself, the author of striking conceptual projects. In 2022, he won the Grand Prix at the IX Tashkent Biennale of Contemporary Art for his project Artmobilization. We don’t talk about everyday things at the dinner table – we dream, debate, and plan. Art has become our family religion, our shared purpose, our way of loving.

ELLE: Do you have any rituals or habits without which you won’t start painting?

Oh yes, I have a whole “entry ritual” for creativity. I light a candle – it seems to cleanse the space. I always brew a coffee – a small act of focus. And of course, Mickey the cat settles nearby, like a guardian of inspiration. He watches me paint, and honestly, I feel some of the ideas are his contributions! Creating this “scene of inspiration” helps me enter another state – more subtle, focused, almost meditative.ELLE: Which of your works is particularly special to you and why?

A special place in my heart belongs to my social project “Art Heals”. As part of it, I work as an art therapist with children undergoing long-term treatment at the Center of Hematology, Oncology, and Clinical Immunology. It’s not just work – it’s my personal mission.

Art truly heals. It gives hope, restores voice, and helps process emotions that words cannot express. When I see a child smile after drawing their fear, I know: this is true art. And if I can bring even a tiny bit of light into their world, then I am exactly where I’m meant to be.

ELLE: How do you view art today: is it a personal confession or a dialogue with society? Contemporary art is a multi-layered text. It can be a confession, a protest, or a prayer. It can be a weapon, a tool, an oasis. Amid the chaos of today’s world, it helps us not lose ourselves – and sometimes, to find ourselves again. Art is a mirror where society sees its wounds and its hopes. For me, it is a temple where purification takes place – and the artist is not a priest, but a witness.

ELLE: What emotion or thought do you most want to convey to the viewer through your work? 

I want the viewer to feel: they are not alone. That their emotions are heard, that their pain, joy, and doubt are part of the shared human experience. If my work evokes an emotion – any emotion, from tears to laughter, then a connection has been made between us. Indifference is the only thing I fear. Because if something resonates within you, that’s the start of a new story. Art doesn't need to be liked – it needs to touch. Everything else is a matter of taste.ELLE: And finally, what advice would you give to those just starting on the artistic path, especially women? 

The creative path is not a flower-lined trail – more often, it’s a steep track with rocks and turns. Women in art often have to balance between home, motherhood, society, and their inner voice. And I want to say: don’t be afraid. Go where it’s scary. Doubt – but don’t back down. Seek your voice, even if it seems barely audible at first. I found my recipe: a deep desire to create. It’s like a magnet – it will attract everything you need. Create in the name of love. In your name. In the name of light.

Photo: Serafim Dim