I will be finding visual examples of illustration, design and art made by people from the country I call home and similar to home. I will be showcasing pieces that I feel are the most interesting and relevant to that country and to me.
Artists
1. The Singh Twins
The Singh Twins incorporate traditional techniques used in Indian miniature paintings to produce vivid and very detailed pieces of artwork. Their use of colour, decorative patterns in the background and symbolism of Indian culture are shown in the paintings, yet are combined with the modern political, social and cultural themes of British history.
The Twins were influenced by their dual cultural identity and also their mixed multiple identities. Bringing eastern styles to western art and juxtaposing it into one piece.
A similar representation to how I view my life in Britain. I'm from Bangladesh but I was born in England to parents who have stuck to their heritage and background. I live in a household where there would be a merge between two identities. Such as drinking tea which is often seen as a prominent feature of British culture, our carpets covered in intricate patterns and iconic figures framed around the house.
To find out more about The Singh Twins head over to their website at:
https://www.singhtwins.co.uk/
2. Njideka Akunyili Crosby
Here is another artist I found similar to The Singh Twins and the idea of having dual identities I live by at home.
Crosby is best known for her mixed media pieces that stretch more than 11 feet in height and width. She creates vibrant paintings that weave together personal and cultural narratives drawn from her experience of living in a Western Environment. Crosby combines an array of materials and techniques to reference both her native country, Nigeria and her adopted home in America. Creating works that juxtapose the two worlds together.
A clear visual aspect of her piece is the use of small photographic images as if they were swatches of fabric, from Nigerian magazines or taken by the artist with her own camera during visits to Nigeria. My home in England would also have some cultural reference to my country of origin, such as images from Bangladesh wearing traditional attire and also religious objects in every room of the house.
To find out more about Crosby's work head over to her website at:
http://www.njidekaakunyili.com/
3. Grayson Perry
Of course Turner Prize winner Grayson perry had to make an appearance in this blog somewhere. I remember going to one of his lectures during my time studying at UAL. He metioned this piece in particular which depicts an exploration of himself and the nature of identity, but he decided to show it in the form of a map. He thought the walled city was a good metaphor that can roughly be interpreted as your skin. "That is the nature of the self – our identity only works in company", he quoted. The people around you co-created you aswell as yourself. Your parents, you're friends and everyone else had some sort of influence to how you are now. It all comes down to where you live, whether it'd be a town, a village, or a big city, it becomes a big part of you.
I guess for me, I have been conditioned to adapt and follow the British traditions and become a part of that culture. Therefore I have broken away from my Bengali roots. I cannot speak the language yet I completely understand it.
To find out more about Grayson Perry's work head over to his page at:
https://www.artfund.org/news/2014/10/31/grayson-perry-interview-map-of-days
Illustrators
1. Emma Rios
London based illustrator, stylist and set designer, Emma Rios creates 3D life sized images using pen and ink. She does this by cutting out and constructing scenes and silhouettes to make her drawings come to life. She then works with a photographer to capture the shadows and highlights to bring out the three-dimensional aspect of her work. I really enjoy the likeness of her environments. It makes me feel happy and it has that heaven-like feel to it too because 0f the high contrast in colours.
To find out more about Emma Rios's work head over to her website at:
https://www.emmarios.com/
2. Rosanna Tasker
Rosanna Tasker creates beautiful dreamlike illustrations full of elongated figures, natural settings, and very light and subtle colour schemes. Her artwork includes lots of lines and simple patterns by using traditional applications such as gouache, pencils for outline and high quality papers. She then cleans up the
edges digitally using phot0shop and adds the few finishing touches to her piece.
Her picturesque images often resemble iconic tourist attractions such as the clear balls carrying the people on the wires, (shown in the image) look a lot like the cubicles in the London Eye.
To find out more about Rosanna Tasker's work head over to her website at:
http://www.rosannatasker.com/#/new-page-5/
3. May van Millingen
London-based illustrator May van Millingen enjoys creating colourful and bold line-based pieces that include strong historical references.
Millingen works with a variety of leading brands across publishing, fashion and advertising. She uses hand drawn and digital processes to put together her pieces such as using ink and watercolour combined with different mark-making skills such as cross-hatching and strong graphic lines. Then enhancing her pieces digitally.
The image shown on the left is of the London Thames. I like how the shapes around the river fit together like a puzzle. London is quite like that in a way with lots of turns and different directions that always somehow lead you back to where you first started.
To find out more about May van Millingen's work head over to her website at:
http://mayvanmillingen.com/illustration#/id/i4854467
Designers
1. Muzharul Islam
Muzharul Islam was best known as the father of “Bengali modernism” and was one of the most influential architects of South Asia in the 1960s and 70s. His beautifully crafted buildings would have white modern piloti such as pillars, or stilts to elevate his structures. From the onset, his main focus was the material such as using bricks that were only made from gas rather than burnt coal and woods. This was to prevent fungus from growing and so no more than 5 percent of water would be absorbed by those bricks.
His stuctures wouldn't be compact, instead it there would be several scattered sections to the building, in line with the weather and culture of Bangladesh.
To find out more about Muzharul Islam's work head over to his website at:
http://www.muzharulislam.com/
2. Louis I. Kahn
Louis Isadore Kahn treated each building like a temple. Across the United States, in India, Bangladesh, Pakistan, and Israel.
His designs were very modernised with strong geometric forms and open spaces so that natural light can suffuse his stuctures.
He created the National Assembly Building and capital complex in Dhaka, Bangladesh after it declared its independance in 1971. The parliament took 23 years to built, the same as the Taj Mahal and was finally complete by 1983 . Thousands of workers would carry baskets of concrete on their heads and would climb up bamboo scaffoldings to make it.
This parliament was considered one of the most well-cherished and grand buildings ever made in Bangladesh. Fifty years back, Bangladesh only contained paddyfields and nothing more, so Louis felt like he had a responsibility to create an institute for democracy from where Bangladesh could rise and develop it's country.
Fun Fact: Muzharul Islam was originally comissioned to create the parliament but he deferred this honor and invited his former teacher Louis Kahn to design it instead.
To find out more about Louis Isadore Kahn's work head over to his page at:
https://www.archdaily.com/334095/happy-112th-birthday-louis-kahn
3. Maheen Khan
Maheen Khan is an innovative designer from Bangladesh. She is the creator and founder of "Mayasir", a clothing line and accessories collection reflecting contemporary interpretations of traditional Bangladeshi attire. She uses a combination of colour and traditional embellishment to make her stunning outfits that have given "Mayasir "its own signature look. Kahn's aim was to transform Bangladesh's strong heritage and culture into something contemporary and easy to wear. Such as included pieces in her women's line that can be worn with anything, and can transition from informal to formal wear.
To find out more about Maheen Kahn's work head over to her page at:
https://www.thedailystar.net/living-and-lifestyle/bangladeshi-fashion-the-world-stage-1365781
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