RAFIQUN NABI

Rafiqun Nabi (b. 1943) is one of Bangladesh’s most distinguished visual artists, celebrated for his refined draftsmanship, intellectual clarity, and enduring contribution to modern graphic art. Born in Chittagong, he studied at the Government Institute of Arts and Crafts (now the Faculty of Fine Arts), University of Dhaka, graduating in 1963. He later joined the same institution as a teacher and served for decades, shaping generations of artists through his disciplined approach and quiet leadership.

Rafiqun Nabi is best known for his mastery of drawing and printmaking, particularly etching and pen-and-ink. His artistic language is marked by restraint, economy of line, and conceptual depth. Through recurring motifs—such as birds, trees, human figures, and urban silhouettes—he explores themes of time, solitude, freedom, and existential reflection. His celebrated cartoon character Tokai, created in the 1970s, became an iconic social commentary on poverty, resilience, and moral irony in post-independence Bangladesh, bridging fine art and popular culture with rare sensitivity.

Nabi’s works have been exhibited widely at home and abroad, and his visual essays reveal a thoughtful engagement with both personal introspection and collective experience. Avoiding overt dramatization, he relies on subtle symbolism and poetic silence, positioning him as a contemplative voice within Bangladeshi modernism.

Accolades

• Ekushey Padak, Government of Bangladesh (1993)

• National Art Award, Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy

• Gold Medal, Dhaka University Art Exhibition

• Honoured for lifetime contribution to art and culture