Rokeya Sultana
From Madonna to Earth, Water, and Air
Rokeya Sultana is an internationally recognized, versatile artist and a Fulbright Fellow. Her deep and unique artistic expression has made her one of the most significant contemporary painters in South Asia.
Early Life and Education
From childhood, Rokeya had a deep passion for art, which was shaped by her experiences of living in different countries and being a refugee during the 1971 Bangladesh Liberation War. These experiences later influenced her artwork. She studied at the Faculty of Fine Arts, University of Dhaka, and at Santiniketan, where she mastered various artistic techniques. Her journey took her to the international stage, with a residency at L’Atelier Lacourière et Frélaut in Paris, which further enriched her artistic career.
Artistic Career and International Recognition
Rokeya Sultana has received numerous national and international awards, including recognition at the 9th Asian Biennale, the National Art Exhibition (Dhaka), and the 3rd Bharat Bhavan Biennale (India). Her works have been exhibited in many countries, including Poland, Germany, Morocco, Oman, France, Iran, Egypt, Turkey, Taiwan, Nepal, Korea, Denmark, Pakistan, India, and the USA (Denver, Wyoming, New York), among others. Each exhibition has challenged viewers to see art in a new way.
Artistic Style and Themes
Rokeya moves seamlessly between abstract and figurative art. She uses different mediums—canvas, printmaking, and metal sculptures—but always ensures that the medium enhances the message, not the other way around. Her tools, from paintbrushes to printmaking rollers and welding electrodes, become an extension of her emotions and thoughts.
One of her standout works is Fata Morgana, where she visually represents a mirage, capturing the contrast between human desires, dreams, and reality.
In Madonna and Earth, Water, Air, Rokeya attempts to break free from personal and societal illusions. Though these works differ in their artistic approach, both are deeply personal reflections of her journey as an artist and a human being.
Madonna: The Struggles of a Woman
Rokeya’s Madonna series portrays the struggles of a middle-class mother. Through these paintings, she depicts a working mother battling societal, economic, and environmental challenges to raise her daughter as an independent and strong individual. It captures the dual pressures of maternal love and responsibility on one hand, and the longing for personal freedom within a restrictive society on the other.
From a feminist perspective, Madonna is not just a personal story—it is a powerful statement on women’s survival in a patriarchal world. A mother’s struggle isn’t just for her child; it is also for her dreams, freedom, and identity. Madonna embodies this fight, showing both the tenderness of motherhood and the determination to break social barriers.
In global art history, Madonna paintings have inspired many artists. From Leonardo da Vinci’s Madonna of the Rocks to Raphael’s Sistine Madonna and Edvard Munch’s Madonna, Rokeya’s Madonna stands among them with its own unique voice.
Earth, Water, Air: A Reflection on Nature and Existence
One of Rokeya’s most notable environmental artworks is Earth, Water, Air, which offers an abstract interpretation of Bangladesh’s landscapes. However, beyond beauty, the painting also asks an important question: how are we treating our planet?
Globally, many artists have created works about climate change, such as Antony Gormley’s Earth Body, Olafur Eliasson’s Ice Watch, and Nils Udo’s Water Bench. In this conversation, Rokeya’s Earth, Water, Air holds its own significance.
Her multi-layered and versatile artworks act as bottled messages, floating towards us with a warning. Are we ready to listen? She highlights the shrinking of land, the loss of rivers and wetlands, and the increasing pollution of air. Her art is not just about capturing nature—it is also a wake-up call.
Present and Legacy
Today, Rokeya divides her time between Dhaka and Sydney, working in her studios in both cities. Her art blends modern and traditional styles, enriching Bangladesh’s artistic heritage.
But she is more than just an artist—she is an ambassador of Bangladeshi art on the global stage. Her paintings are a reflection of society, culture, history, and personal experiences, touching the hearts of art lovers worldwide.
In short, through her creativity, Rokeya Sultana is making Bangladesh proud on the world stage.
