Fawad Tamkanat
To say that Fawad Tamkanat`s work is narrative is a gross understatement. Throughout his career as an artist, he has strived to develop and then perfect a visual vocabulary that he can use to communicate with his viewers. And this language, that he uses to take on peoples` minds, has nothing to do with society, religion or politics, but, quite blatantly, is all about his own personal fixations. Fixations that include those with time, and one`s place in the general scheme of things. Fawad was born in Hyderabad in 1962, to a family that already had artistic inclinations running through its veins. His father was the famous Urdu poet, Shaz Tamkanat.
Fawad’s subject matter comes from his own encounter with people in the city. He strives to develop his personalized with untainted visual vocabulary that is easily understandable. He explores and experiments with various mediums such as dry-point, etching, watercolour, acrylic on tarpaulin and oil. His earlier themes include his favourite sensuous women, often engaged in love. Over a period, the fetishes gradually turn into well-dressed and embellished ladies. In both cases, the imagery evokes desire for material things. Perhaps the reality, what is seen is depicted here. The women are shown with thick contours, gaze at viewers as if they need an attention. The other theme that he dealt with is cityscapes, where the old dwellings that represent cultural integrity are systematically distorted and beautiful employing vigorous brush lines and thick hues. “Street Culture” series is the recent style which evolves in photo realistic idiom. Fawad captures the mood and the mundane reality of Hyderabad streets as if the busy, murky business of ordinary life is frozen in his vibrant canvases.
Fawad has held twelve solo shows in India and abroad to his credit, and has participated in state, national and international exhibitions and group shows at major art centres.
