Of mud, music and creating magic: How Papia turned into an artist for the soul

Deep within the cultural roots of Dhaka, a sweet, young girl called Papia Sarwar Dithi was born. Today's artist/architect Papia might be a Stellar Woman, but how did her journey begin? Where did she tread on the "road less travelled"? Let us find out from the following feature.

Born & raised in Dhaka, Papia had a loving childhood spent amongst siblings and cousins, where she would often turn to her own imagination during playtime to create her own space away from all the chaos. A space where exploration was the central theme, and her corner in the family home was filled with all of her favourite things – books, cassettes, colors, and dreams. Being the youngest child, she often found solace and self-discovery during these moments of solitude from an early age. Her earliest studio, as she claims, was an almirah where she would draw with chalk; laying the rudimentary foundations of a world that was entirely made up of her own self-expression.

Childhood visits to their hometown in Lakhutia, Barisal, shaped her eventual fascination with structures and forms. Her cousins and she would spend hours playing with shelters they would erect using bamboo and banana leaves, teaching her more about rural Bangladeshi architecture than any textbook ever could. She found a deeper love for her craft when she would peek from their ancestral home and see the neighbour across crafting intricate architectural models in his verandah. Later on, in her educational years at BRAC University, mentors like Dr Habib Reza and Sajid Bin Doza helped hone her focus, allowing her true artistic identity to take shape.

In all of these bits and pieces, painting was ever present, chilling in the background like an invisible friend, always there to provide companionship and boost imagination when nothing else worked. In fact, it started so early for Papia that she claims to "not know when it even began." Despite never formally studying Fine Arts, those treads off the beaten path of imagination helped create her own visual language over the years, one that is earthy, organic, and resonates deeply with her personality.

Her peers had seen her amazing devotion to painting over the years, and it is their unrestrained enthusiasm that encouraged her to pursue art alongside architecture. She later transitioned into becoming a full-time artist/architect, where she would pursue both her passions simultaneously.

Since her earliest childhood days, Papia has drawn her greatest inspiration from nature. Mud, spices, and natural pigments colour her work, while materials like straw, bamboo, and even stray leaves from a stormy night often find their way into her art. She takes pride in designing spaces with time and love, and she truly believes that female artisans give undivided attention that natural materials deserve.

These days, she works on murals, wall paintings, abstract art, and occasionally takes on commercial projects that allow her to test her boundaries. She has participated with the Fearless Collective in her first international residency, where she completed a powerful mural on climate justice in Colombo, Sri Lanka. Papia says that art is the broadest platform to share and connect with others, with dozens of possibilities to spread love and compassion around the world.

While her family remains her strongest support system, initially her mother Asia Sarwar was worried about her decision to drop a stable career choice for what, at the time, seemed to be more whimsical. Her husband, flutist and architect A. M. Najem, has also given her inspiration to continue in creating paintings that speak to the soul. All these have also helped her to carve her own niche in the sphere of art & architecture that is largely dominated by men.

Speaking about bti The Daily Star Stellar Women, Papia remarks that it is like a 'garden of flowers,' a fitting metaphor since she draws daily inspiration from Mother Nature herself. She believes that women deserve respect, recognition, and fair opportunities alongside men for a more equitable society. For all future Stellar Women, she says, "You should love yourself, set your own boundaries, nurturing your body, soul and dreams. Remember, the world needs you."

In Papia's universe, creation is a way of life – and she silently keeps adding to it her own creations that are quiet, consistent, & transformational. From her chalk-filled childhood days to creating celebrated international murals, Papia's journey has been as colourful and textured as her art. We sincerely hope that this journey will keep taking her places, allowing her to fulfill her biggest dreams while representing Bangladesh on a global stage.