Born in 1969, Rahim Mirza completed his art education at Bharat Bhavan in Bhopal, where he studied printmaking. Mirza’s current body of work however, is largely made up of acrylics on canvas.
The leaf occupies a central motif in much of his work, representing, perhaps, a multiplicity of emotions; while the appearance of the first leaf signifies Spring and renewal, the shedding of the brown leaves in Autumn heralds the onset of winter. It is these subtleties and the complexity of the simple motif that intrigue the artist.
While Mirza focuses on the leaf, he chooses to remove it from its natural environment. Thus while the leaf is a prominent symbol in his work, there generally is no sign of a tree or any context beyond its form. In its multiplicity, the artist creates rhythm and meaning that is far beyond its reach.
Mirza had his first solo exhibition at Crimson Art Gallery, Mumbai, in 2000. This was followed by others at Archer Art Gallery, Ahmedabad, in 2001; and Diara art Gallery in 2002. His work has also been a part of group shows like ‘Collective Spaces’ at M.E.C. Art Gallery, New Delhi, in 2006; ‘Anadi’ at the Lalit Kala Akademi, New Delhi, in 2000; and ‘Vibgyor’ at the Lalit Kala Akademi, New Delhi, also in 2000. Mirza has also participated in ‘Samvet’, the Madhya Pradesh exhibition at the Lalit Kala Akademi, New Delhi, in 1999; the Tokyo International Print Triennial in 1998; the 8th All India Art Exhibition, Lucknow, in 1997; and Exposition-96 at the Lalit Kala Akademi, New Delhi, in 1996.
The artist was honoured with the Raza Foundation Award in 2005, and in 1997 won the Madhya Pradesh State Award, Bhopal.
Education
- 1996 Specialisation in Graphics (Print Making), Bharat Bhawan, Bhopal
Exhibitions
- 2002 Daira Art Gallery
- 2001
Selected Solo Exhibitions
- 2002 Daira Art Gallery
- 2001 Archer Art Gallery, Ahmedabad
- 2000 Crimson Art Gallery, Mumbai
Selected Group Exhibitions
- 2010 ‘Swasti Roop’, An Abstract Show by Raza Foundation Awardees, Art Alive Gallery, New Delhi
- 2006,05,04 ‘Collective Spaces’, M.E.C. Art Gallery, New Delhi
- 2000 ‘Anadi’, Lalit Kala Akademi, New Delhi
- 2000 Birla Academy of Art and Culture, Kolkata
- 2000 Aliance Francaise De Hyderabad
- 2000 ‘Vibgyor’, Lalit Kala Akademi, New Delhi
- 1999 ‘Alternative Art’, Lakeeren Art Gallery, Mumbai
- 1998 Different Strokes, Pune
- 1997 Birla Academy of Art and Culture, Mumbai
Participations
- 1999 ‘Samvet’, Madhya Pradesh Artist Show, Lalit Kala Akademi, New Delhi
- 1998 Tokyo International Mint Print Triennial, Japan
- 1998 Rajasthan Biennial, Jaipur
- 1998 41th National Art Exhibition, New Delhi
- 1997-98 All India Art Exhibition, Amritsar
- 1997 8th All India Art Exhibition, Lucknow
- 1997 40th National Art Exhibition, Bangalore
- 1997 All India Fine Arts and Crafts Society (AIFACS) State Exhibition, Bhopal
- 1997 International Print Biennial, North Central Zone Cultural Center (NCZCC), New Delhi
- 1996,97,98,99 All India Fine Arts and Crafts Society (AIFACS) Painting Exhibition, New Delhi
- 1996,97,98,99 All India Fine Arts and Crafts Society (AIFACS) Graphics Exhibition, New Delhi
- 1996 North Central Zone Cultural Center (NCZCC), Allahabad Exhibition, New Delhi
- 1996 ‘Vividha’, Bhopal
- 1996 Exposition-96, Lalit Kala Akademi, New Delhi
- 1995 C.K.P. All India Art Exhibition, Bangalore
- 1995 Raza Award Exhibition, Gwalior
- 1995 J. Swaminathan Memorial Art Exhibition, Bhopal
- 1995 First Eastern Print Biennial, Bhuwaneshwar
- 1995,96,98,99 All India Exhibition of Art, South Central Zone Cultural Centre (SCZCC), Nagpur.
- 1994 Kala Parishad, Bhopal
- 1992 Bharat Bhawan Biennial of Contemporary Indian Art, Bhopal
Honours and Awards
- 2005 Raza Foundation Award, New Delhi
- 1997 Madhya Pradesh State Award, Bhopal
- 1996 All India Fine Arts and Crafts Society (AIFACS), New Delhi
- 1995 Raza Award, Bhopal
- National Scholarship from HRD
