Rishin Zaman, a final-year painting student at the Government College of Fine Arts in Thrissur, Kerala, has become something of a quietly probing artist, whose pieces present private snapshots of the mundane. Descent for beauty is the ordinary: Zaman’s subjects are from his own world of family and neighbors, of quotidian tenderness. His grandmother serves as a consistent presence in his paintings, which embody a close connection to her. In doing so, Zaman touches on themes of aging and labor and resilience, all while paying homage to the quiet dignity embedded in mundane routines.
Zaman’s approach is mostly centred around figurative drawings and sketches, defined by thick outlines, textures, and a palette of earthy colours. Each painting holds an innate attentiveness and care, the artist carefully amassing moments from his grandmother’s life, whether she sits quietly, is engaged in chores, or is in a state of repose. His embrace of space and composition allows him to balance the subject with an environment which reinforces a nuanced interplay of form, memory, and emotion.
Having been raised within an orthodox Islamic family, Zaman’s art also includes visual components inspired by his indigenous Muslim ethnic culture It’s through clothing, gestures, and domestic settings that these cultural couplings naturally arise, firmly rooting his works in a rich sense of place. The fine detailing and expressive brush strokes suggest his investment in documenting not merely familial bonds but the ethos of his community.
Even more than the wide-ranging scale of histories: the ability to render it in his own blend of realism and emotive touch. His paintings serve as personal and social chronicles, evoking universal tales of care, endurance and identity. In doing so, he illuminates marginalized stories, transforming quotidian moments into timeless art.
Iftikar Ahmed is a New Delhi-based art writer & researcher.
