IN A NUTSHELL
Besiana Sinanaj is an eclectic artist navigating the planes of art, science and education. Born in Albania but raised in the lush tropics, the crispy temperate region and the scorching desert, her experience and love of diverse cultures and ecosystems fuels her art.
Welcome! Mirë se vini! Ndewo! !مرحبا Bienvenu(e)! Karibu! Herzlich Willkommen! 欢迎！
My name is Besiana and it's a great pleasure to have you here, exploring the website of my eponymous company.
In 2022, after completing my PhD in Biology and becoming a researcher, I sat down with a mug of herbal tea and contemplated my future. I was ready for a new challenge. A fulfilling one where my creativity could run wild...
Fast forward one year and here I am – the director of my own art company – creating original artwork, selling it and keeping track of finances, logistics and marketing. So far, it's been smooth sailing thanks to my ambitious nature and my experience in art.
I have been drawing and painting for as long as I can remember. In fact, the earliest record of my art is a pen drawing of a "ciu ciu" [Eng. translation: tweet tweet] made in 1996.
Art was an important outlet for me throughout my journey to adulthood. I poured my soul onto many a canvas, giving strangers insights into my character and inner state. Oscar Wilde sums it up nicely in one of my favourite art quotes:
“Every portrait that is painted with feeling is a portrait of the artist, not of the sitter. The sitter is merely the accident, the occasion. It is not he who is revealed by the painter; it is rather the painter who, on the coloured canvas, reveals himself.”
– O.W.
from 'The Picture of Dorian Gray'
Having had no formal advanced training in the visual arts, the techniques I use in my work are largely self-taught and inspired by the vibrant surroundings I have been fortunate to live in, as well as visits to art galleries. I admire many artists, designers and movements, among these, the Pre-Raphaelites and Art Nouveau.
The realisation that my artwork resonates with people from diverse backgrounds and walks of life encouraged me to think about using it for a higher purpose. Early on in my scientific career, I started integrating fine art into diagrams to make them stand out and saw that this was well received by both the scientific community and the general public. Discovering this niche in illustration helped me begin to define a vision for an art company... And here we are! I would now like to introduce you to the main aims of BESIANA.
MY AIMS
(i) To bring people joy by helping them to connect with nature.
(ii) To make science accessible within and beyond the scientific community.
(iii) To highlight global issues in order to encourage discussion and change.
(iv) To keep handcrafted art alive.
You may be thinking that these are quite profound aims. I agree. Sometimes it is good to dream big while finding joy in every small difference you make. My aims are closely aligned to my personal beliefs, some of which I have laid out below in the context of my company.
The bond between humanity and the natural world is sacred.
I believe in the importance of keeping nature close to heart while navigating the urban jungle of modern society. Why? Because our planet is beautiful. Every continent is covered in breathtaking flora and fauna that deserve to be appreciated and conserved. The physical, mental and spiritual benefits of spending time in nature are recognised by many cultures and are supported by science. Sadly, quality time outdoors is becoming a luxury for many. How can we cope with this? By bringing nature into our homes and workplaces through art.
Engaging with the arts is a basic human right.
Article 27 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights states, "everyone has the right freely to participate in the cultural life of the community, to enjoy the arts and to share in scientific advancement and its benefits." I could not agree more. Art is a universal language and a medium for creative expression and activism. The arts encourage new ways of thinking, demand change for the better and celebrate identity. What good is evocative art if it cannot be enjoyed by everyone? This is why I sell a variety of products that cater to a range of budgets.
Accessible science opens doors to creative dialogue.
I believe that in order to find solutions to the social, environmental and scientific challenges facing the world today, everyone needs to take part in the conversation. Meaningful conversations happen when scientific knowledge is shared with others through effective communication, patience and empathy. The more we exchange with one another, the faster our pace of innovation and the greater our chances of making new discoveries.
Good actions lead to good karma.
I believe in the concept of good karma. Genuine acts of goodwill and kindness feed into a perpetual cycle of positivity and eventually come back full circle. My art products make great gifts that uplift both giver and receiver. Some of them do even more good. I donate a percentage of the profits from particular artwork to the causes I care about. These include the preservation of indigenous knowledge and culture, empowerment of individuals, sustainability, education and sanitation.
I hope that by outlining the essence of my company I have inspired you and made you feel confident about choosing my art products and services. Feel free to follow me on social media to keep up to date with my activity and please reach out directly at art.by.besiana@gmail.com for all enquires. Sending you lots of positive energy!
