Art is vital in uncertain times, says Winnipeg artist Azka Ahmed

Art is important not justright now, but always,saysinterdisciplinary artist Azka Ahmed.

So if you are just dabbling in your own practice privately, or don't think there is a space for you or your art publicly, think again, says the Winnipeg artist.

"The world needs art. There is a space for you and you might just change someone's life," saidAhmed.

The Winnipeg spoken word poet, who uses they/them pronouns, is the subject of a new short film about their work, which you can watch above.

The four-minute film about Ahmed is the work of local filmmmaker Mandeep Sodhiand delves into the inspiration and motivation behind their art.

• Click here to register to watch Mandeep Sodhi's short films during a virtual screening and Q&A event on Thursday, Jan.27 at 7:30 p.m. CT with CBC Manitoba host Marcy Markusa.Registration is free.

While poetry, paintingand drawing were their focus, Ahmed also shifted to film and video during the pandemic.

Their work now also focuseson mental health, self-care, vulnerability and compassion, they said. It's a message they hope others will tune into during these unsettled times.

"What are you doing to take care of yourself?"Ahmed asksin the film. "Have they spent some time inside their mind lately?"

The film about Ahmed is part ofOur Culture, Our Art a four-part video series by Sodhi profiling South Asian artists in Manitoba, created forCBC Manitoba's Creator Network.

The three other video profiles will be released in the coming days:

• Sunday, Jan. 30:Seema Goel explains how one hitchhiker and a bigfib paved the road to a 26-year career as an artist.
• Thursday, Feb. 3:GurpreetSehra on how the outdated caste system informs her work.
• Sunday, Feb.6: Sisters Saira and Nilufer Rahmanexplain how they honour theirlate father's storytelling traditions.

The four-part series was produced in conjunction with CBC Manitoba's pop-up remote newsroom bureau and community space in Garden City Shopping Centrein late 2021.

Meet the filmmaker

Mandeep Sodhi is a screenwriter, cinematographer and director, who has been based in Winnipeg since 2011. He has more than 13 years of experience in the film industry in India, the United States and Canada.

He has won two national awards in India for his docudramas, and his music videos have been nominated for national and international Music Awards in India, Asia and Sierra Leone.

In 2015, Mandeep won the ACTRA Manitoba Golden Boy award for most outstanding member initiated project for his short film The Perfect Little Plan.

He has written and directed for television and has had his works broadcaston Bell MTS, Super Channel and various on-demand platforms. His film company isSodhi Creative Films.