Meet HateCopy
Maria Qamar, better known as Hatecopy, is a Pakistani artist based out of Toronto. Maria was recently on the Elle Canada cover with well-known South Asian Youtube Artist, Lilly Singh. Recently I had a chance to speak to Maria about her illustrations.
1. Tell us about Hatecopy.
Hatecopy is the no nonsense artist that represents all that is sassy and glamorous about desi culture.
2. How did you start doing this?
I’ve been an artist as long as I have been alive. I’ve only been allowed to be one openly for a year.
3. Have you always wanted to be an artist?
Yes. Drawing is easier for me than writing. If I could communicate in hieroglyphics, I would.
4. Why the name Hatecopy?
It was originally a brand for myself in advertising. I was going to be a copywriter and the term stemmed from my belief that if you hate something, you could change something. The name gave me that edge in social media. It wasn’t so stereotypically South Asian, which meant that if I wanted to do something other than Desi art, I could.
5. What do you hope to achieve this year?
It may sound funny, but everything I had hoped to achieve by the 
end of 2016 I achieved in the first three months. So I’m hoping to set my goals higher and see if I can work towards that for the rest of the year. Right now I’m working on a book, a mural and a whole lot of fun partnerships, collaborations and exhibits.
6. Where do you see yourself in the next 5 years?
I try to avoid this question because I didn’t see myself doing this two years ago. My life changes from year to year, and I like the mystery.
7. When/how were you approached for the Elle cover?
Elle reached out. I said yes. The rest is history! Literally, it’s a part of history. That cover featured more women of colour than any of Elle’s covers, ever.
8. What was your reaction when you found out you were going to be on the cover?
Excited more so because I got to meet all the talented people that work behind the scenes to make it happen. I’m absolutely fascinated by the fashion world so this was the best way to get a glimpse of that lifestyle.
9. Who are these aunties that are the main characters in most of your illustrations?
They’re women in your family who gossip about your life for no reason. They pretend to be your mother or talk about you to your mother about what you are up to. They want to know your personal things like bowel movements or blood type. Sometimes they plot to get you in trouble. Some of them even say they can use black magic… they go to extremes to make your life difficult.
You can check out her illustrations on her Instagram page: https://www.instagram.com/hatecopy/?hl=en
HateCopy also sells various t-shirts, mugs and more on her website: https://hatecopy.com/
Photos Courtesy of HateCopy Instagram
