Rashid Ahamad with guests.

Everything is contained within a single dot—this is where creation begins and ultimately dissolves back into it. From the microscopic precision of scientific analysis to the vast observation of the cosmos, both the subtlety and the infinite expansion of existence emerge from this very point or dot. It is this philosophical concept that artist Rashid Ahmad expands through his art.

Rashid describing his work.

His solo exhibition “Bindu: Dots Series” was inaugurated on May 2, 2026, at the Annex Gallery of India International Centre, New Delhi. On the occasion of the opening, curator and art critic Sushma Bahl attended as the chief guest. Curator Anoop Kamath, Dr Ved Prakash Bhardwaj, and ex-MLA Mr Durgesh Pathak, along with many art enthusiasts, were present. The presence of artists Arun Bora, Umashankar Pathak, Ibrar Ahmad, Anamika S, and curator Praveen Mahto, among others, further enriched the event.

Rashid Ahmad’s art is dominated by deep colours—especially black and brown—through which he creates visual landscapes that evoke both the tangible world and an underlying sense of mystery. In several works, he also employs shades of blue along with varying tones of brown, adding further depth to his compositions.

Rashid perceives the entire universe—including human beings—as a single “point”. From this perspective, his work expresses the idea of form dissolving into the formless. Any recognisable shape in his compositions emerges only at the level of perception; it is not presented in its physical form but understood as an essential essence.

Praveen Mahto, Rashid Ahamad, Arun Bohra, Ume Shankar Pathk, Dr Ved Prakash Bhardwaj and Anoop Kamath.

The movement of lines across the canvas, along with the expansion of points from one direction to another, reflects the dynamism of creation. According to the artist, “The lines on the canvas are a journey.” These lines may even be seen as map-like divisions of the Earth. His works come alive with the sense that they encompass the journey of human civilization and symbolically represent the motion of the entire living and non-living universe.

Sushma Bahl addressing the audience.

Layers play a crucial role in his work. Often, one layer appears to emerge from behind another. Rashid associates this with life experiences: just as a person’s age adds layers to their personality, his paintings embody similar accumulations. At times, the surface appears scratched—perhaps suggesting the scars of life’s difficult moments, though this remains open to interpretation.

His art communicates not through design-driven structures but at the level of emotion and thought. Rejecting a linear visual experience, his works open up possibilities for multiple meanings and interpretations. The use of acrylic and oil paints, along with materials such as fabric, paper, and sand, creates depth and raised textures that draw viewers in.

Rashid Ahamad with guests and visitors.

On this occasion, Sushma Bahl remarked that in Rashid’s works, elements such as earth, water, sky, mountains, and trees all appear together—as if the entire ecosystem of nature has been condensed into a single dot.

Images by Praveen Mahto, Ebrar Ahmed and other artists.