“On the way” is a love affair between spoken words and the visual nuance it creates. In 2004, Wakilur Rahman painted it using watercolor on paper. Traveling in between Dhaka and Berlin, working tirelessly, and balancing the life of a nomad, took away his chance of experiencing life from up close. He has seen things happening in a rush and the restlessness stayed with him. He poured that emotion into his craft and narrated it through verses written in water. The painting, fading into the background and still holding the sense of belonging, makes people connect with it deeply, feel his nostalgia and cherish an experience that wasn’t theirs in the first place. Wakilur Rahman binds people to the painting and leaves them longing for a past that is lost in the course of time and only alive through a shared feeling.
Artist Profile
Wakilur Rahman
Wakilur Rahman, a painter, printmaker, and sculptor, was born in 1961. After obtaining his undergraduate degree from Dhaka Art college and graduating from Central Academy of Fine Arts of Peking, China, he moved to Berlin in 1988. He uses his art to address social issues, local stories, and a world of turmoil.
On the Way
Artist Art Style
Wakilur Rahman made his name in contemporary art. Bengali Calligraphy, shapes and size, and word form and alphabets are his areas of interest. He balanced neutral earthy tones with vibrant ones and explored the relation of spoken words with inanimate objects. Along with painting he was known for being a sculptor and printmaker.
