Noor's Artist Statement

Hello! :D My name is Mah-Noor Anwar. I am a multi-disciplinary graphic designer & Second-Generation Pakistani Immigrant based in Manchester, UK. I am also the founder of Chutney Chick, an online platform which aims to create pride and belonging for 2nd + 3rd Generation South Asians.

I digitally combine and manipulate photography, collage, hand-drawn lettering, and crude illustrations to create fun and playful works. My practice focuses on connecting with autistic people, learning disabled adults, and immigrant communities. 

It is therefore important to me that the work I create has an accessible, welcoming, and friendly feel to it. In order to achieve this, I use my own photos (taken with my phone camera!), my own drawings, public domain and found imagery. I will include photos of myself - including my baby photos! - in a lot of my work, particularly for Chutney Chick and as part of my self-branding. I feel this stems from a need to be ‘seen’ in a world and industry where people like me are often left feeling isolated and invisible.

This has also influenced the subjects and approaches I have taken on- my project I Love Ducks Autistically is an interactive publication that aims to encourage autistic people to engage with their special interests. I have focused on embracing my own (ducks) through the publication - with a focus on rubber ducks, as this is the object which started my interest.

‘Autistic Special Interests’ are characterised as being very intense, highly focused and specific interests. Many autistic people have these and they are used as a source of enjoyment and way of coping with everyday life. 

My younger brother - who has always been one of my biggest fans, second only to my dad! - is both autistic and learning disabled. I have always worked to ensure he (as well as other adults like him!) has ways to relate to and engage with my work. His opinions are key to my design process. He tends to enjoy my work with bright colours, animals, toys, bold shapes, and playful sound effects - so I look to include these as much as possible! 

My creative influences are generally things that are fun, vibrant, and don’t take themselves too seriously. One of my biggest influences are the graphics present on Manchester’s beloved “Curry Mile” and South Asian/Halal Takeaways in general.

These graphics often feature low resolution and highly saturated images, contrasts between type and backgrounds that make type difficult to read, or the use of typefaces found in software such as Microsoft Word - such as Arial Rounded or Comic Sans. These characteristics suggest that the businesses have produced these images themselves. For myself and the rest of my community, who frequent these fantastic businesses, this aesthetic provides comfort and other positive associations- I personally associate this style of design with food that has been lovingly prepared, as well as the large and welcoming community that I come from. I feel that channeling this aesthetic in my design work is a way to honour my community.

Some of my other influences include Pakistani truck art, sweets packaging, children’s magazines (my favourites were always the 2000s-2010s Spongebob magazines!), and 2000s online flash games, such as ‘Bin Weevils,’ ‘Club Penguin,’ and ‘Moshi Monsters.’