London-based mixed media artist Sabah Foster can trace her love for collage back to childhood, where she nurtured a passion for collecting imagery, postcards, stickers and ephemera. “In my spare time I would scrapbook, collage and decorate my diary with my findings.” Now, using a cut-and-paste technique and playing with pattern, colour and layering, she seeks to transport viewers to a “simpler time”.
She also has a way of visually representing cultural identity, relationships and expressions. In one of her collages, she adorns the Caribbean drink Ting with a background reminiscent of a checked bistro table cloth, titled after Shabba Ranks’ dancehall classic, Ting-A-Ling. In another she crops a photo of a couple moments before they’re about to kiss and stamps it with a Tasty logo.
The decisions Sabah makes in the foreground and backgrounds of her collages honour the bold and colourful aesthetics of artists like Wyatt Knowles, Ema Gaspar and Hassan Hajjaj. “I love Wyatt’s DIY approach to graphic design, playful use of illustration and refreshing colour palette, and I relish in Hassan’s use of contrasting colours and objects found in Marrakesh’s markets, in his fashion photography.” As her practice grows, Sabah is on her way to leaving a real mark on the visual cultures she holds dear.
