Rafi Haque revels in graphics

Angel (L) and an untiled work by the artist

"I've mainly learnt the techniques at the Institute of Fine Arts, Dhaka University and then followed it up with workshops in Japan, France, Korea and other places. This media has come from Germany and can be quite technical. The technique has to be turned into an art. The lithograph that I do is different from what is done by others in Bangladesh. I learnt it from Karen Kunc from Nebraska University, Lincoln. We normally use limestone blocks with a greasy ink called tush, We mask this with Arabic gum and then proceed. As an alternative, zinc sheets can also be used. The technique I use is paper lithograph which can be done by hand," Rafi says.

"I had to practice extensively in order to master the technique. I had exhibited my works at the Fukuoka Museum in Japan, which led to working in this medium at a workshop at Sangyoda University with master's students," he adds. Rafi directed another workshop at Fukuoka Museum; the Japanese teachers and students being amazed at the new technique. In 2003, in the world graphic triennial in Paris, Rafi won an honorary award and the following year he received the first prize at the same French triennial function which included over 4000 graphic works. This year he got yet another award from Tokyo. He has also participated in an exhibition held in Michigan, Lodz (Poland ) and Frankfurt by sending his works there.

"Graphics is a portable media that can easily be rolled and sent by airmail which is not so in cases of large canvases or sculpture pieces," Rafi comments. "Sometimes we exchange prints and get to know each other's works. People overseas are amazed that a country like Bangladesh, known abroad for its floods and famines, can produce fascinating art works too," he adds. "When I showed the publication of Society for Promotion of Bangladeshi art, viewers in Europe were overwhelmed. I feel that if Bangladesh can take a pavilion in any of the art fairs this will promote not only the artists but the country as a whole."

Asked how Bangladesh fared in the field of fine arts compared to India, Rafi says that art is not a marathon race that is to be won. Art from the 20th century is a very personal one. "Artists like Kibria, Aminul Islam and Rafiqun Nabi studied abroad and brought back the trend of the abstract and semi-abstract. India still tends to be myth oriented like the Renaissance artists who followed the Bible so often. Even though we are a small country, I don't think we have fallen behind our neighbours in India," Haque concludes.