There is nothing quite as intriguingly beautiful as a Persian carpet, feels Fannan Raza. The artist and interior designer has crafted over 25 pieces of these lovely “art in carpets”, currently on display at Sublime Galleria.

Apart from being strikingly eye-catching, these works of art come alive when one scans the QR code below the image. Waves wash on the shore, a leopard regally steps out of a carpeted veil , cats gaze at you with their innate hauteur and a bedecked hand-drawn rickshaw takes you down memory lane.

“I wanted viewers to understand what my work was about, even if I was not present to talk to them about it,” says Bengaluru-based Fannan, elaborating on why he chose the digital route for his art.

Fannan, who has also done the voiceover and scripting for each piece, says he was inspired by his father Syed Afham Raza. “He was an innovative engineer, constantly creating something or the other and as the youngest child at home, I got to accompany him on a lot of his projects.”

“I always looked up to him and when I grew up, I decided to get into designing. After qualifying in interior design, I also took up 3D and psychology in design as I was passionate about it,” he adds.

Fannan Raza
| Photo Credit:
Special Arrangement

Unfortunately, Syed passed away four years ago and Fannan says he found a measure of solace in art. “Whenever I felt like reconnecting with my dad or find a way to express my emotions, it was always through art,” Fannan says, adding that he was always inspired by the artistry of Persian carpets.

“I did a lot of research before I got to designing my artwork. This exhibition is about my journey of loss and grief, how I coped after I lost my father. There are pieces, which talk about my suffocation, my vision and the paths that Life takes us on.”

And while he wanted to create something tangible and not just digital, Fannan says, “I couldn’t bring myself to talk about my feelings; that is how the augmented reality facet of this show came about.”

Fannan works on a digital format to create these carpets, each of which are 27” by 35” and in a vertical format so they “remain within a viewer’s gaze”. While some have a distinct Arabian Nights mysticism, others showcase different genres. Visitors to the gallery will see instances of still lifes, anime, abstract art, surrealism and more.

When asked why his work is not confined to a definitive genre, Fannan says it has to do with how he processes his emotions. “I sit down in a quiet place and collect my memories or remember my journey. I write down a few key points and then sketch what comes to mind.”

Mystic Horse by Fannan Raza
| Photo Credit:
Special Arrangement

However, he does not stop there. Fannan conceptualises three to four (or sometimes more) rough sketches before, “I take all of these stories and create a whole new piece. Each piece is created under a different timeline. It’s all about how I am able to articulate my emotions through what I am creating.”

A penchant for stories and an eye for detail is evident in each piece at Carpeted Journeys Within. “I used to design tattoos when I was in school and even won competitions,” says the former Josephite, adding that it was not just one element or motif that he would etch, but an entire narrative around the image.

“I also believe in the power of manifestation. As a school boy, I’ve seen UB City come up and believed I would get there one day. Today, my first solo show is in its gallery and its windows look out into my old school grounds,” says the artist, whose work was also on display at the India Art Fair 2024.

“A lot of people are silently grieving, especially after the pandemic and the whole point of my exhibition and my art is to tell people that this sorrow can be channelled, but first, we need to accept it.”

Download the Artivive app to watch Fannan’s art come to life on the page. Carpeted Journey Within is at Sublime Galleria, UB City, till April 27, 2025. Entry fee ₹50.

Guardian of grace by Fannan Raza
| Photo Credit:
Special Arrangement