Particularly focusing on elderly subjects, Mohammad Faizan explores the dignity and wisdom of human beings and their cultural facial expressions; his art is a beautiful voyage through the sacred. He uses watercolour because it enables him to navigate this tightrope between soft and vivid, representing the raw likeness of years (and stories) lived within the parameters of his artistic flexibility. Every work by Faizan, sates his connection with the subject and their state of being living entities; speaking volumes about emotions, human experiences and years of cultural history.
All of Faizan’s work centers on a deep respect for the elderly, especially those who represent traditional societies. His subjects, often with faces indicative of emotion and always wearing bright turbans, exude quiet strength. Their weathered faces show the lines of time and stories as indelible proof. In touching upon these aspects of his details, Faizan not only demonstrates what old age does to the body but also captures an essence of its strength and wisdom.
In his portraits, the turbans embody tradition and legacy — a staple of aesthetics in his imagery. They are not just mere articles of clothing but as they bear cultural connotations, a nod to your regional, familial and more spiritual identity. Faizan’s detailed portrayal of these turban formations illustrate the bond between that person and its culture and hence making every painting an embodiment of their nationality. The use of vivid colours and complex surfaces, add another layer of storytelling within each piece.
Along the way, Faizan too dwells on spiritual and existential layers of life. His subjects, while often wearing a weary glimpse in their expression, have the look of some solemn introspection suggesting tracks made not just by foot but the spirit after too. His light touch and soft colour palette cultivates a space for the viewer to ponder life, time conquered by possibility represented in abundance. In his portraits Curiá captures instances of inner resonance where the viewer is invited to share with a closeness to the soul in each one.
Faizan’s art is a form of storytelling that recounts stories of cultural resilience, faith in the divine, and the resilience of human spirit. This fact, along with his ability to instill deep sensations in his viewer through a viscous technique such as watercolour, which is more than substantial enough to make it shine beyond plain visuals. In his portraits, he celebrates the legacy of older citizens as keepers of tradition and wisdom amid a world that constantly speeds up around them. His art is a testament to the beauty and value of aging, experience and the cultural narratives that hold us to our legacy.
Iftikar Ahmed is a New Delhi-based art writer & researcher.
