Biz Rasam
Biz Rasam MFA ‘21
Email: biz.rasam@gmail.com
Website: https://www.bizrasam.com
My practice is informed by themes and narratives of Afghanistan and its culture, an approach that began to take shape while I was working with the US military as a Cultural Advisor and confronting my identity as an Afghan-American. Through an intermixture of diverse material and various traditional media, I investigate political turmoil, historical aspects of war, cultural disparities and personal memory as a multicultural artist.
My early work was more in line with traditional methods and techniques, focused on Western European-style oil paintings. I have since broadened my practice and developed a stronger conceptual base through research and experimentation.The materials I employ now are metal, plaster, wood, fabric, and foam are all shaping my practice as the medium becomes a post element to my work.
My current work invites viewers to explore the rich culture and traditions of Afghanistan through a contemporary Afghan-American perspective. My relationship with traditional Afghan culture is ambivalent: some beliefs and customs are beautiful while others are very oppressive, and I want to explore this dichotomy further. I take a critical view of many cultural issues while also celebrating and revealing aspects that are often hidden or misunderstood about Afghans. I am also interested in recontextualizing Afghanistan’s rich history. A few pieces I have recently developed are inspired by the 15th century Persian artist Kamal al-din Bihzad from the Afghan city of Herat. I reimagine his paintings through a contemporary lens with oil paint on styrofoam, hinting at modernity and its sometimes destructive elements.