Artist statement
Academic and Work Experience
Received art training in painting at Jawahar Bal Bhavan , Hyderabad , under the guidance of artist T.Vaikuntan. Participated in art competitions while in School & collage in State, National, and International level and was awarded in various categories as child artist and young upcoming artist .
I Had joined art collage from 1994 to 2000 (B.F.A. painting) under the guidance Proof. Mrs. Kavita Desukar, Head of Painting Dept at J.N.U.T Collage of Fine arts, Hyderabad. In 2000-2002 joined M.F.A. (painting/printmaking) under the guidance of Proof. K.Laxma Goud, Head of Painting Dept. S.N.School, University of Hyderabad. Telangana
Awards and Fellowships
Artistic Ambition for the Future:
Presently I am working as professional freelance full time artist in Hyderabad. Looking for an opportunity to explore myself more competently towards showing the rich heritage and culture of India ,through my Paintings/ Drawings. Painting is an integral part of my life. I especially like creating sketches of nature , adding colors to create a periodical narrative. Being in contact with nature is like a meditation for me. However, I never know in advance if the sketch will become a painting or not. I feeldrawing is one spontaneous art that can catch natural flow of thought,so I express intensely through drawing than other art medium. Drawing supports in creating the form , flowing with chain of thoughts . –rough edge of torn paper , scribbling, spots of dark shade, cutting lines to each other , netting, broken lines, flowing lines create texture, which represents the appearance of struggle of existence of the form. Lines indicate the sensitivity and rhythm. Space is composed to get the freedom of form and its existence.
I intend to expose all possible medium like Egg Tempera with mixed media, Acrylic, Oil, Ink Drawing, Pen Drawing, Charcoal, Water Color, etc. The content is very local and tuned to my experience of old Hyderabadi culture. My interest of Urdu language calligraphy is seen on my paintings, which show the poetic and rich tradition of my city ,also the style of living and culture of people around me which is rarely seen and known in today’s newer ,urban parts of the growing city . I want to portray all my childhood memories of my City/Country through my painting, I have experimented with several mediums: oil pastel or paint, gouache, acrylic... Currently I prefer watercolour because of its rich pigmentation and incredible versatility. I enjoy the constant challenge of mixing paraffin with watercolour because the outcome is often surprising. I believe that mastering this technique has great creative potential in realising the texture and content of my art practice
About My Work- Basically - Hyderabadi -Chronicles of Old City
Basically Hyderabadi at first glance, is a trip down memory lane for most of us who have lived in the city. The scenes and profiles are bound to evoke images of experiences that one has had in Hyderabad India. Quintessentially Hyderabadi, the paintings depict the leisurely pace of the old city, of women clad in burkhas strolling in an unhurried manner through bazaars, a group of bearded men clustered together and a charcoal sketch of an old fakir with a flowing beard. The artist, Syed Rayees Ahmed, has resorted to the cubis style, the provenance of renowned artist Pablo Picasso, for his paintings. Crisp geometric lines with bright colours bring out the colorful attire of the Hyderabadis beautifully. In sharp contrast to the gaiety in their attire, their expressions remain somber and unassuming, born of a simple and unquestioning faith in their way of life. This is a style that has been inspired by famous artist, Laxma Goud, whose artwork has similar flashes of colorful raiment in marked contrast with charcoal-grey pokerfaced expressions.
In keeping with the cubist style, the artist has tried to show inner qualities in portraits with the use of multiple well defined facets instead of a single frontal aspect. The paintings also show a stained glass effect similar to the Byzantine religious paintings, which the artist has adapted in a modern style with the use of religious icons that merge in with the forms depicted in the paintings.
The collection is a mixed one, with paintings and sketches done by the artist. The sketches which were done over a period, truly bring out the influence of the artist's mentor, Thota Vaikuntam. Done in a sculpturistic style, they have well defined two dimensional lines that somehow contrive to create a three dimensional effect.
However, what really brings out the skill of Rayees is that instead of attempting to replicate his mentor's style, he has borrowed specific traits from the styles of three different artists, that are best suited to the Hyderabadi scenario and has created a wonderful collection.
While Vaikuntam's strokes are thicker and bold, which works perfectly for the rustic settings that he portrays, Rayees has toned down his strokes to suit the frailty and delicate lines of Hyderabadi features. His sketches also bring into prominence the expression in the eyes of the veiled women. In short, the collection makes for an interesting viewing.
Syed Rayees Ahmed
Academic and Work Experience
Received art training in painting at Jawahar Bal Bhavan , Hyderabad , under the guidance of artist T.Vaikuntan. Participated in art competitions while in School & collage in State, National, and International level and was awarded in various categories as child artist and young upcoming artist .
I Had joined art collage from 1994 to 2000 (B.F.A. painting) under the guidance Proof. Mrs. Kavita Desukar, Head of Painting Dept at J.N.U.T Collage of Fine arts, Hyderabad. In 2000-2002 joined M.F.A. (painting/printmaking) under the guidance of Proof. K.Laxma Goud, Head of Painting Dept. S.N.School, University of Hyderabad. Telangana
Awards and Fellowships
- Junior Fellowship Govt. of India, Ministry of Culture , New Delhi.2011-13.
- Research Grant/Scholarship, Govt. of India, Ministry of Culture, New Delhi -2003-2005.
- National Research Grant/Scholarship of the Lalit Kala Akademi, NewDelhi.2002-03.
- H.E.H. Nizam’s Education Trust Scholarship, Hyderabad.1992-93.
- 3 Time Selection for National Exhibition of Art. By Lalit Kala Akadem, Govt. of India,NewDelhi.
- 3 Time Selection for Exhibition of Contemporary Art, Govt. of India, Ministry of Culture, SCZCC, Nagpur.
Artistic Ambition for the Future:
Presently I am working as professional freelance full time artist in Hyderabad. Looking for an opportunity to explore myself more competently towards showing the rich heritage and culture of India ,through my Paintings/ Drawings. Painting is an integral part of my life. I especially like creating sketches of nature , adding colors to create a periodical narrative. Being in contact with nature is like a meditation for me. However, I never know in advance if the sketch will become a painting or not. I feeldrawing is one spontaneous art that can catch natural flow of thought,so I express intensely through drawing than other art medium. Drawing supports in creating the form , flowing with chain of thoughts . –rough edge of torn paper , scribbling, spots of dark shade, cutting lines to each other , netting, broken lines, flowing lines create texture, which represents the appearance of struggle of existence of the form. Lines indicate the sensitivity and rhythm. Space is composed to get the freedom of form and its existence.
I intend to expose all possible medium like Egg Tempera with mixed media, Acrylic, Oil, Ink Drawing, Pen Drawing, Charcoal, Water Color, etc. The content is very local and tuned to my experience of old Hyderabadi culture. My interest of Urdu language calligraphy is seen on my paintings, which show the poetic and rich tradition of my city ,also the style of living and culture of people around me which is rarely seen and known in today’s newer ,urban parts of the growing city . I want to portray all my childhood memories of my City/Country through my painting, I have experimented with several mediums: oil pastel or paint, gouache, acrylic... Currently I prefer watercolour because of its rich pigmentation and incredible versatility. I enjoy the constant challenge of mixing paraffin with watercolour because the outcome is often surprising. I believe that mastering this technique has great creative potential in realising the texture and content of my art practice
About My Work- Basically - Hyderabadi -Chronicles of Old City
Basically Hyderabadi at first glance, is a trip down memory lane for most of us who have lived in the city. The scenes and profiles are bound to evoke images of experiences that one has had in Hyderabad India. Quintessentially Hyderabadi, the paintings depict the leisurely pace of the old city, of women clad in burkhas strolling in an unhurried manner through bazaars, a group of bearded men clustered together and a charcoal sketch of an old fakir with a flowing beard. The artist, Syed Rayees Ahmed, has resorted to the cubis style, the provenance of renowned artist Pablo Picasso, for his paintings. Crisp geometric lines with bright colours bring out the colorful attire of the Hyderabadis beautifully. In sharp contrast to the gaiety in their attire, their expressions remain somber and unassuming, born of a simple and unquestioning faith in their way of life. This is a style that has been inspired by famous artist, Laxma Goud, whose artwork has similar flashes of colorful raiment in marked contrast with charcoal-grey pokerfaced expressions.
In keeping with the cubist style, the artist has tried to show inner qualities in portraits with the use of multiple well defined facets instead of a single frontal aspect. The paintings also show a stained glass effect similar to the Byzantine religious paintings, which the artist has adapted in a modern style with the use of religious icons that merge in with the forms depicted in the paintings.
The collection is a mixed one, with paintings and sketches done by the artist. The sketches which were done over a period, truly bring out the influence of the artist's mentor, Thota Vaikuntam. Done in a sculpturistic style, they have well defined two dimensional lines that somehow contrive to create a three dimensional effect.
However, what really brings out the skill of Rayees is that instead of attempting to replicate his mentor's style, he has borrowed specific traits from the styles of three different artists, that are best suited to the Hyderabadi scenario and has created a wonderful collection.
While Vaikuntam's strokes are thicker and bold, which works perfectly for the rustic settings that he portrays, Rayees has toned down his strokes to suit the frailty and delicate lines of Hyderabadi features. His sketches also bring into prominence the expression in the eyes of the veiled women. In short, the collection makes for an interesting viewing.
Syed Rayees Ahmed