Biography

I have been working as a performance and visual artist during and after graduating Estonian Academy of Arts. My main interest was to cross the borders of myself, of society, any borders…

2015 I met my Sufi master and my life has changed since. There is a new chapter and more and more borders to cross.

Currently I am writing down a novel of following sufi path and how it changed my life.  This is accompanied with painting, inspired of sufi miniatures.

2017 I stared with storytelling and singing performance series: Stories of Mullah Nasruddin, with what I want to continue with.

My name has changed several times. Former Mai Sööt since birth, Mai Arslan since marriage, lately receiving sufi name Wasilah, I decided to carry Wasilah Sööt as an artist name. To use name from my spiritual path and name from my origin family.

I am married, have one daughter and we live in Tartu

Education:

2017-2018 power engineering and mechatronics, Tallinn Technical University

2016 Ashtanga yoga teacher training course, Ashtanga Yoga Mysore Yoga Alliance Certificate

2007- 2010 interdisciplinary arts, Estonian Academy of Arts (MA)

2002–2007 painting and restoration in Tartu Art College (BA)

Job and career:
Since 2010 occasionally instructing performance workshops in Estonian Academy of Arts.

Yoga instructor, interior designer, art teacher, administrator in theater, freelance artist.

Born in Tartu, Estonia 1983.

Khairiyah Sööt-Arslan (former Mai Sööt)

2022