Wahida Ahmed

WEAVING AN ODYSSEY OF EXPLORING AND EXPERIMENTING INDIGENOUS ART

They say “pen is mightier than sword”, nevertheless Wahida Ahmed, an artist par excellence, exemplifies that colours, palettes and art forms are also an idiosyncrasy of mightiness. Her art forms are not just a splash of acrylic on canvas, it includes locally available materials carefully woven which tells the story of her motherland. A recipient of ‘Naari Shakti Award’ by Lions International in 2015, she amalgamates painting and poetry. She has two publications to her credit Bindu Alekh Bindu and Jibon Dristi, a publication of Assamese poetry. In conversation with Mumeninaz Zaman, the artist gives a deeper insight into her life and work.

As a child, Wahida Ahmed has been an ardent sports person. Born in Sibsagar, Assam, she grew up with the stories of Shankardev and Azaan Fakir, Wahida reminiscences, “When I was a kid, I was fascinated by the decorations and architectural structure of the masjids, where I used to go for my Arabic lessons, the minars (pillars), patterns and detailing of the artworks created an inquisitiveness within my mind. Even after reaching a certain age, when we are refrained from going to masjid I would break the rules and secretly visit the masjid to devour the divine beauty. I was equally influenced by the temples and the Shivadoul and all the historical places in Sibsagar, which have created a deep impact on my mind.”

Having completed her diploma in Fine Arts, she exhibited her first piece at a junior national art competition at Srimanta Sankardev Kalakshetra in 2005 and won the commendation award there. Since then she kept soaring higher. Her artwork has been exhibited in both national and international platforms showcasing the diversity of the Northeast.