An Artist with a Magic Wand

Photo: Prabir Das

Jewel A Rob – the name might not be familiar to many of us. He likes to introduce himself as a painter who believes in magic realism, his friends would call him 'crazy' for the off-beat art projects that he undertakes and to the art lovers, he is one of the most promising young artists pushing the contemporary art scene into overdrive.

After earning his master's degree from the Faculty of Fine Arts, Dhaka University, Rob has already carved a niche for himself in the contemporary art scene while his paintings have graced several galleries of the country. Recently his artworks in the International Art Biennial Cox's Bazar 2015 were able to draw massive attention from the art world.

Rob grew up flipping through the book illustrations of renowned artist, Hashem Khan in his textbooks. Little Rob used to fill up the black and white line drawing of the books with his crayons. Seeing his passion for painting, his aunty used to encourage him constantly to take up art seriously

Having a career in art, therefore, was the ideal rite of passage for him.

After his higher secondary education when it was time for him to map out the next chapter in his life, he preferred getting admitted into Fine Arts. But as soon as his father came to know this, he did not seem quite happy with his son's career selection.

Rob felt disappointed, but not discouraged.

"I had to fight and argue with my father consistently," Rob laughs. "In fact, couple of times I considered leaving home."

Only more than a week left for the admission test he decided to get into the admission coaching for Fine Arts and have the career he had dreamt about his whole life.

During his university days, Rob used to devour the short stories and novels of Gabriel Garcia Marquez, also known as the magus of magical realism.

"Marquez has influenced me a lot and the subject material of my paintings mostly draws from the Latin America genre of Magic Realism."

For him, interaction is very important. The elements in his paintings are rooted in our everyday reality while they attempt to creep into an otherwise reality. They will stir your curiosity and make you ask question.

"Any form of artwork needs to have the ability to establish a direct communication with the environment and people," Rob comments. That's where community based alternative art projects can play a role, believes Rob.

The viewers should also be able to make a connection while enjoying the art believes Rob. That's why he did not confine himself to canvas and brushes only, rather he explores different forms of performance art including video arts and installation arts
 He along with his artist friends run a group named Back Art, where they have undertaken projects on urbanization and our native mythology and folklore.

The contemporary young artists, who dare to challenge the traditional forms of visual art such as painting and sculpture, need more exposure and promotion says this art aficionado.

"Several talented individuals and organisations, Britto for example are working sincerely to take art out of the gallery using new media such as video documentary, installation and photography," Rob suggests. "It gives the art connoisseurs a new way of looking at art.

With Back Art, we too attempt to challenge the traditional art forms. I believe the responsibility of making the experimental art forms a popular genre in our contemporary art scene falls upon all of us," he ends.