Ashfika Rahman

Ashfika Rahman, a visual artist based in Bangladesh, is deeply influenced by her mother's role as a social worker in her creative journey. Currently engrossed in the creation of an alternative archive, she aims to illuminate the marginalised communities in her homeland. This archive draws inspiration from mythological, spiritual, and folk tales, all of which she recontextualises within the context of contemporary issues. Her artistic focus primarily revolves around photography, ingeniously recontextualised through contemporary media such as text, drawing, prints, textile, sound, video, and installations. Through these expressive mediums, she embarks on extensive research and painstakingly records the struggles, violence, communal displacement, cultural colonisation, and suppression faced by the community.

However, her approach goes beyond mere documentation and archiving; she actively engages with these communities, collaborating with them to share their poignant and heart-wrenching experiences—a populace profoundly affected by disenfranchisement. Tragically, the histories and cultures of these communities face erasure due to the unrelenting and severe policies and ideologies upheld by both the state and the societal elite of the nation. Her installation, serving as an alternative archive, not only draws attention to these pressing realities but also critically engages the global audience. 

Furthermore, her commitment extends to the establishment of an alternative boat school for children in her grandmother's cherished location – the largest wetland in Bangladesh. In this innovative setting, she explores alternative methods of art education, reflecting her dedication to fostering creativity and expression in novel ways. Alongside her artistic endeavors and social initiatives, Ashfika enriches the academic sphere, imparting her insights through lectures at prestigious institutions such as the FHNW Academy of Art and Design in Switzerland and the Hochschule Hannover in Germany. Moreover, her involvement extends to the Pathshala South Asian Media Institute in Bangladesh, where she serves as a faculty member.