Meet Mina Bihi – Our BHM Featured Artist

Posted on: 27 September 2024 in Posts

Get to know the Liverpool artist, Mina Bihi, behind our Black History Month exhibition. The digital exhibition, 'Radiance' will be available to view in the University of Liverpool libraries during the month of October. The digital exhibition is now available to view below on our CSIS YouTube.

My name is Mina Bihi, and I am a Black female photographer /artist based in Liverpool with over 15 years of experience in the industry. I have worked on numerous commissions and projects in both the private and public sectors, collaborating with organisations such as FACT, Liverpool Biennale, the University of Liverpool, and the Museum of Liverpool. These opportunities have allowed me to bring my creative vision to life while contributing to the city’s vibrant cultural landscape.

In addition to my photography, I am a long-standing trustee for the Green House Multicultural Play and Arts Project, where I help promote inclusivity and multiculturalism through the arts. My passion for storytelling and commitment to community and social justice drive my artistic and professional work.

For Black History Month, I’ve created a digital art collection highlighting Black Joy and the global Black community's beauty, strength, and resilience. I aim to showcase vibrant, uplifting stories that reflect our culture, pride, and creativity. By focusing on joy, I strive to challenge the typical narratives of struggle, instead presenting the Black community as thriving, powerful, and full of life.

My Artistic Process

I combine traditional techniques with cutting-edge AI tools to bring my vision to life. Each piece begins with a thematic idea rooted in Black history and culture. AI helps me experiment with colour, form, and texture, but my creative direction guides every element.

One of the essential techniques I use is layering. I work digitally, building each piece in stages. I start with a base layer that often focuses on form and movement, then add textures, colours, and graphic elements that enhance the overall depth and mood. Each layer tells the story of Black joy through vibrant skin tones, glowing lights, or abstract shapes that reflect cultural symbols.

Black Joy as Resistance

Celebrating Black joy is an act of resistance. It’s important to emphasise our happiness, resilience, and brilliance in a world that often highlights only our struggles. Black Joy is about flourishing, thriving, and embracing the fullness of life. Through my art, I seek to amplify these stories and offer a new perspective on being Black that honours our history and celebrates our present and future.

My art piece celebrates the Black community's beauty and power through moments of joy, pride, and love. I hope this collection inspires and uplifts, serving as a visual testament to the strength and resilience that define Black culture. By focusing on Black joy, I’m contributing to a narrative that celebrates who we are—bright, vibrant, and unstoppable.

'Radiance' can now be viewed on our CSIS YouTube.