Sumeya Ahmed- BA (Hons) Illustration with Animation
Playing Cards
Sumeya Ahmed is a Somali illustrator working primarily with drawing and printmaking, often combining the two mediums. Her work is characterised by mark-making and draftsmanship, utilising characters and narrative to convey emotions and construct dreamlike, imaginative scenes.
Her creative process is defined by spontaneity and immediacy, resulting in highly expressive imagery. She strives to find a balance between exploration and refinement, frequently employing digital collage to achieve this “middle ground” within her illustrations.
For her final year project, she illustrated a deck of playing cards featuring visuals of Somali diaspora culture. These cards take the cultural expression that is usually confined to the home into an imaginary world with monsters, dancing girls, and surreal landscapes.
Although the deck of playing cards is strongly associated with play and socialising, Sumeya associates it with peace, comfort, and reflection due to her daily routine of playing solitaire in the morning. Therefore, these cards serve a dual function as comfort and a personal meditation on what it means to be Somali.
