Fahm Saelee of Rem Bujo
This February snack box features stickers created by Sacramento local artist Fahm Saelee. Fahm Saelee's art centers around bullet journaling and stickers to help add some creativity through beautiful colors.
I’m currently on my last semester of my Master of Social Work (MSW) program at Sac State. I’ll be graduating at the end of May 2021! I started an Etsy shop to sell my stickers and art last year around June 2020 as a quarantine project and I’ve been enjoying it. I’ve been going as the pen name “Rem” on my art accounts. Art has always been a creative outlet for me and something that I like to do on my free time. When I’m not buried in textbooks and school assignments, you can find me painting, hiking, or binge-watching shows!
Follow Fahm:
Purchase her artwork on her Etsy
What inspired you to become an artist?
I’ve been drawing ever since I could hold a pencil. When I was young, I used to fill notebook after notebook with sketches and drawings. Growing up, my inspiration mostly came from books, cartoons, anime and manga. I also find a lot of inspiration on social media. Drawing to me is expansive and endless, it is a way to create something that doesn’t exist in the world.
How do you want to see your art featured and what stories do you like to share through your art?
I really wanted to make art that is representative of me. I have a million ideas but have yet to tackle all of it yet! I want to create art with a message. To spread awareness about mental health, to spread awareness about my culture. I also create art and stickers for bullet journaling.
One of the main reasons why I created an Etsy was to create art representative of Mien and Asian Americans, and for the next generation of youth to relate to. Last year, I created “Mien Voter/ Iu Mien Voter”. I felt that there was a creative void that I can help fill and help amplify Mien voices!
What is your favorite dish? Is there a story behind it?
I’m the exact opposite of a picky eater. I love all kinds of food. If I were to choose a favorite cultural dish, I would say kasoy or kapoon but both require a lot of ingredients to make! If I were to choose a simple favorite, it would be banana eggrolls! I remember as a kid, I would help my family roll trays full of eggrolls for cultural events and ceremonies. They are incredibly simple and easy to make with just bananas, eggroll wrap, eggs (to seal the eggroll wraps), and oil for frying. Now when I eat them, they bring a lot of nostalgia.
What does courage mean to you?
Courage to me means jumping. Jumping even if you feel fear, even if you’re scared. Courage is taking the next step forward and doing the right thing even if it’s the road less taken.
Where can we expect to see you in the next few years?
I am most active on Instagram and Etsy! I also recently created a YouTube channel. I plan to cultivate my art on those platforms for now and put out more art beyond stickers. Unfortunately, due to the pandemic events are not possible right now but when things get better, I would love to be able to sell my art in-person. It would be cool to be a vender and have a booth at cultural events and possibly anime conventions!
Thank you so much to Fahm for sharing her story with us! Tuk Tuk box is proud to exclusively feature Southeast Asian ingredients and include refugee, migrant, and generational stories in every box.
If you, or someone you know want to share their story with us send us an email hello@tuktukbox.com. Stay tuned for future stories and the newest products by subscribing to our email list serv.
