(December 21, 2023) Art is an exploration of the present moment, as far as Afza Tamkanat is concerned. Whether it was painting the streets of Hyderabad, her city by birth, or the sights of Sydney, where she is curently based, Afza takes inspirations from the the things that surround her. Her father, the celebrated artist Fawad Tamkanat, never wanted to impose his thoughts and dreams on his children, but for Afza, who grew up surrounded by canvases and paintbrushes, and her father hard at work, art seemed to be the only way. Her challenge is to establish her own voice as a painter, without losing touch with the work that has so inspired her – that of her father. She paints imagery that is close to her heart – the sparrows her grandmothes used to feed, the streets of Hyderabad and the landscapes of Sydney, where she lives with her husband. Her canvasses have a distinctly vintage feel, which she works hard to achieve. Now, at 33, Afza Tamkanat’s art is a reflection of her journey, from childhood memories to getting married, motherhood and moving countries.
A family of stalwarts
Born into a creative family where children were encouraged to choose their own professions, Afza had many examples of living one’s passion at home. Her great-grandfather, Syed Hafeezuddin, was a famous Hyderabadi playwright; her grandfather (Shaz Tamkanath) was an accomplished poet; and her father is one of Hyderabad’s best-known contemporary artists.
Afza Tamkanat with her father
“Unfortunately, my grandfather passed away before I was born, but I know him through his poetry, his radio and television interviews, newspaper articles, and most importantly, how his colleagues, friends, and students speak about him,” Afza tells Global Indian.
As a young girl, she has been deeply influenced by her father’s work. She says, “My father, who is my best friend, is the reason I do what I do. He has always encouraged and supported me in whatever I chose to do, be it learning to play the keyboard or designing my own clothes, and most importantly, painting.” Her fondest memories are of her father would giving her his brushes and colours to paint, and then print her drawings as new-year cards to send to galleries across India.
Growing up, she was a soft-spoken and quiet child who preferred painting over playing with toys. She reflects, “I was also one of those kids who was never good at communicating; I was the silent observer and had a deep passion for painting and listening to stories. The joy and happiness that I felt when I was painting were like no other, and I knew I would be more than satisfied doing this for the rest of my life.”
Finding her feet
For Afza, there is no greater influence on her work than her father. She agrees, “Ever since I can remember, I have seen my father paint. His immense body of work, his hard work, and his dedication to his work have been inspirational. I was always in awe of his craft and wanted to paint like him, secretly wishing to do even better.”
As Afza started painting academically, she slowly evolved her own style and language. Working with different mediums, her realistic renderings create an interesting space that is subtle and sensitive. Her subdued colour palette and an element of fantasy that is present in her work infuse a streak of surrealism into her canvasses.
“I like to believe that art was always a part of me,” shares Afza and adds, “I feel I paint the way I look at the world. The memories and nostalgia of an ever-changing world are what I aim to capture. The sparrow sitting on the window sill, dipping its beak in the bowl of water on a hot summer afternoon, the ride in my grandfather’s old fiat, or the evening ritual of my family with Osmania biscuits with chai—my work is a pictorial diary of my life.”
A recipient of the Devi Award by The Indian Express Group for empowering women through Art, the artist has showcased her work internationally, and has created a niche of her own. The artist states, “When I started, a lot was expected of me by my teachers because of my surname. It was the biggest challenge to move away from my father’s shadow and create my own language and style of work.”
A new facet to life
Afza Tamkanat moved to Sydney after her marriage to Muqhaddin Javad in 2018. The Pucca Hyderabadi in her had to adjust a lot, especially when it came to food! She smiles, “I miss my totapari kairi (raw mango), jamun (black plum), and aam (mango), as well as my favourite spots for biryani and chicken 65. But there is a little India here, in Harris Park, where we have Hyderabad House and Pista House (both popular eateries), so we sort of manage. Still, I crave the Hyderabadi hospitality and tehzeeb!”
Sydney has influenced her work in more ways than one. She has exhibited at the affordable art fair in Melbourne and adds, “I love visiting the new South Wales art gallery and the Chau Chak wing museum at the University of Sydney.” Afza shares that the city has a lot of white windows, which have found their way into her work! She shares, “It’s from here that my window series started! As an artist, it’s become my second nature now to observe my surroundings, and sometimes unconsciously, when I am working, things flow on canvas. Currently, Sydney is seeping into my canvasses!”
The mother of two kids, four-year-old Inara Javad and toddler Anaiza Javad,Afzz Tamkanat is juggling being a mom and trying to find time for work. When free, she loves going on bush walks and treks to experience the great Australian outdoors with her husband.
She explains, “I don’t know how I do it. At times, I don’t get the time to paint for months together, but my sketchbooks have little drawings of my ideas. As they say, where there is a will, there is a way!” She has passed on her love for art to her young children. Her elder daughter has her own set of colours and sketchbooks and loves sit and paint with her mother. Having just finished a show in London, she is working on a solo show to be exhibited in Europe, Australia, and America soon.
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