Hi AB! First solo show within a year of graduation. How does it feel?
Hi, I am Abdul Rehman. Everyone’s acquainted with my name AB. I am pleased with the experience that I got from my first solo show. The curator collaborated well with me in questing new techniques. And, the response I got from the audiences was quite elated.
Tell us a little about your art background and how did you end up where you are right now?
I belong to a middle class family with least resources to pursue my education. I did a 3- year diploma from Naqsh School of Arts and then I got a fully funded scholarship from Beaconhouse National University, Lahore. I did focus on skill based work in Naqsh and intermingled it with the modern art practices that I experienced in BNU. However, in this way, I evolved a new form that later demonstrated in my practice. I amalgamated my contemporary practice with a new technology Augmented Reality, AR. And, I am teaching the same course at Beaconhouse National University, Lahore.
Your idea of fusing art and technology to create interactive augmented reality paintings is very futuristic.How did you come up with this idea?
I was engaged with many street games in my childhood. And, then I joined an art school, I didn’t focus on the games. After completing my degrees, I applied these gaming memoirs into my work. Art has been a static experience. We look at a painting or sculpture, and that’s it. But with AR, we can create paintings that are interactive and dynamic. We can add sound, animation, and even 3D objects to our paintings, creating experiences that are truly immersive and engaging. As, in my last show I engaged my practice with the gaming aspect as well as with AR to give it a hidden meaning. I’m excited to see how augmented reality will continue to change the way we experience art in the future. I believe that this technology has the potential to create new and exciting ways for people to connect with art.
You paint using acrylics. Why is this your medium of choice?
I use acrylics in my paintings as it is easy to demonstrate the details and defined colours. I did not like the odour of oil paint. As the games are usually in plastic form and the feel of plastic is well versed with the acrylics.
Tell us about the steps involved in creating an augmented reality painting. The steps I follow are these, I pick an image to originate a work. Afterwards, a platform for Augmented Reality is to be chosen. I upload the selected image with the targeted animation. I involve several 3D objects and effects in the selected image accordingly. The image and the animation together lies an implausible impact upon the viewer by scanning the painting with the given instructions. I use the paid version of the software.
What is the concept behind your current show Back to The Future’?
As, I was very much indulged in games in the past, however, I have these long lived memories in my current practices. This practice ultimately led me to develop a new domain by merging AR with the past gaming memoirs. In my practice, I usually prefer to transform old cartoons and games’ fragments or frames by putting AR into them. And how the transformation impacted the audiences. This is the main theme of my recent show ‘Back to the Future’. VR and AR can be used to create immersive experiences that allow users to explore paintings in a new way. VR could be used to create a virtual tour of a museum, allowing users to walk around and view paintings from different angles. AR could be used to overlay digital information onto paintings. The Augmented Reality, AR defined the course of my future work.
You are also teaching at BNU. What are you teaching?
And are you afraid that teaching your students your techniques will shorten your shelf-life as an artist?
I got an excellent opportunity for teaching at BNU. Here at BNU, I teach three courses at foundation level. These are 4th dimensionality, introduction to illustration, and animation. I believe that these courses would develop instincts among students regarding the use of modern technology in contemporary practices. Moreover, I am not afraid that teaching my students my techniques will shorten my shelf-life as an artist. In fact, I believe that it is important for artists to share their knowledge and skills with others. This helps to keep the art world alive and vibrant, and it also allows me to continue to learn and grow as an artist.
Tell us about some of your upcoming projects?
I am consistently trying to gather my audiences to experience something new or not known. And, in my upcoming projects I would like to use the same strategy. I would most likely to produce kinetic paintings and Augmented Reality, AR paintings or the combination of both.
Any advice for young artists coming behind you in the art world?
Sure, here is some advice for young artists coming behind me in the art world:
1. Be authentic, make art that comes from your heart and soul.
2. Work hard, there is no overnight success in the art world.
3. Be persistent, there will be times when you feel discouraged, but don’t give up.
4. Network, get to know other artists, curators, and gallerists.
5. Do not be afraid to fail, everyone fails sometimes. It’s how we learn and grow as artists.
6. Have fun! art should be enjoyable.
I hope these tips help you on your journey as an artist. Good luck