Rubina Rajan | visual artist
zen imbued art
WELCOME
Welcome to Rubina Rajan Fine Art.
Here you will find my abstract paintings inspired by zen calligraphy and abstract lyrical expressionism.
ABOUT RUBINA RAJAN FINE ART
artist statement
Art heals – artist and viewer. This is why I paint.
Many years ago, an exhibition of ancient Chinese calligraphy at the Seattle Asian Art Museum confirmed this healing power of art to transport viewers to another dimension, to a sublime stillness where everything becomes one.
Drawing from my practice of Zen calligraphy, I create abstract ink or acrylic paintings where my challenge and joy is to capture the essence of the chosen theme. This can be inspired by time spent in nature, places, an idea, a feeling, calligraphy folios, bamboo, wise words, etc…. At times, I don’t have a theme other than following the breath…
After setting up my table and supplies quietly, mindfully, I start, breathing in… and while breathing out…, paint the first calligraphic stroke. And then, the journey begins, one step, one stroke at a time, sometimes slow and steady, at times fast and furious, at times hesitant, playful… forgetting and remembering to stay anchored in the breath.
biography
It is the tremendous power of art to heal that draws me to paint. Passionate about Zen calligraphy, I have studied with various brush masters including Ari Tomita, Alok Kwan-hang and Tomoko Kodama. Mentored by Patricia Baldwin, I have also studied Western art through courses in drawing, painting and printmaking. Abstract and lyrical expressionism have held me very captive, especially the works of Mark Rothko and French artist Georges Mathieu. In addition, I also offer workshops using art-making for healing.
Many years ago, I founded Ismaili Artists Worldwide, a networking platform for Ismaili artists. This group has over 2,500 members and as of this year, is part of Artany Gallery and Advisory.
Currently based in Vancouver, I spent my formative years in Rwanda. This land of a thousand hills has instilled a deep love and reverence for Nature. After Rwanda, I lived in Belgium before moving to Canada. To date, my paintings have been exhibited in various galleries nationally and internationally including the embassy of Japan in Ottawa, Canada and Koto-ku Cultural Centre in Tokyo. My paintings are part of collections worldwide
RUBINA RAJAN CV
EDUCATION
Zen Calligraphic Painting:
Training with Asian brush masters in Canada, U.S and France.
Western Art:
Life drawing, acrylic workshops, printmaking, open studios.
SOLO EXHIBITIONS
2016 North Shore Art Crawl, North Vancouver
Delany’s Coffee House, West Vancouver
2011 The New Post-Literate: A Gallery of Asemic Writing
2010 Open Studios in the Arts District, Vancouver
2009 Eastside Culture Crawl, Vancouver
GROUP EXHIBITIONS
2022 Spectrum, Silk Purse Arts Centre, West Vancouver
2020 Art of Resilience, West Vancouver Community Council
2019 Spectrum 2019, Silk Purse Arts Centre, West Vancouver
2018
Spectrum 50, Silk Purse Arts Centre, West Vancouver
Jubilee Arts BC, Richmond Ismaili Centre, Richmond, BC
2017 Spectrum, Silk Purse Arts Centre, West Vancouver
2015
Confluence, Pendulum Gallery, Vancouver
Art Gallery, BC Buddhist Festival, Vancouver
2nd Annual Spring Exhibition, Silk Purse Arts Centre, West Vancouver
2013 Intersections, Roundhouse Community Gallery, Vancouver
2011 Waves of Light, Pendulum Gallery, Vancouver
2010
The Way of the Brush, Ottawa School of Art, Ottawa Generation ONE, Irvin K. Barber Learning Centre Gallery, UBC, Vancouver
The Beginning, Roundhouse Community Gallery, Vancouver
2009
Members’ Winter Exhibition, Malaspina Printmakers, Vancouver
Confluence iv, Ottawa School of Art, Ottawa
Confluence iii, Japanese Language School, Vancouver
Confluence ii, Koto-ku Cultural Centre/Canadian Embassy, Tokyo
Hot off the Press, Malaspina Printmakers, Vancouver Nur – Light, the Essence, Roundhouse, Vancouver
2008
Confluence i, Embassy of Japan, Ottawa
Hot Off the Press, Malaspina Printmakers, Vancouver
Hidden Rivers, Kay Meek Centre, West Vancouver
Twirling the Lotus, Silk Purse Gallery, West Vancouver The Artists’ Salon, Ferry Building Gallery, West Vancouver
Student Show, Federation of Canadian Artists Gallery, Vancouver
2007
SOS Children’s Village BC Auction, Bell Performing Arts Centre, Surrey, BC
The Anonymous Art Show, CityScape Com. Art Space Gallery, N.Vancouver
Chahar Bagh, Roundhouse Community Gallery, Vancouver
COLLECTIONS
Private collections.worldwide