"A Painting Doesn't Need to Be Explained": A Conversation with Rafique Shah

Behind every abstract painting lies a story. Sometimes that story is visible. Sometimes it is felt.

For many viewers, abstract art can seem difficult to understand. Without familiar figures or recognisable landscapes, people often wonder where to begin. Should they search for symbols? Should they look for hidden meanings? Or should they simply experience what they see?

During Artlune's Meet the Artist session for Paiband, artist Rafique Shah offered a thoughtful answer to these questions. Speaking about colour, memory, freedom and the emotional life of painting, he shared how his work has evolved and why he believes every painting begins with feeling rather than explanation.

Here are some of the most interesting moments from the conversation.

Vikas Garg: Your paintings carry a strong emotional quality. When do you know that a painting is complete?

Rafique Shah:

For me, a painting isn't complete because every corner of the canvas has been filled. It becomes complete when it carries the emotion I wanted to express. Sometimes I begin with a particular feeling or an idea, but as I continue working, the painting slowly begins to guide me in a different direction. That's the beauty of the process.

I don't try to force the work to match what I imagined in the beginning. Instead, I allow it to evolve naturally. Every painting has its own journey, and every journey reaches its own point of completion. When I feel that the emotion has become honest and nothing more needs to be added, I know it's time to stop.

Vikas Garg: Your work is full of vibrant colours. How do you think about colour while painting?

Rafique Shah:

Colour has always been the starting point of my practice. When I first began painting, I realised that colour gives you an incredible sense of freedom. It allows you to create places you've never visited, memories you've never photographed, and emotions that are difficult to express through words.

That is why I never see colour as something decorative. It becomes the language through which the painting communicates. Every colour carries its own energy. Sometimes it creates silence, sometimes movement, and sometimes it changes the emotional direction of the entire work. I simply try to listen to what the painting needs rather than choosing colours mechanically.

Vikas Garg: Some viewers hesitate when they see abstract paintings because they feel there is a right interpretation. What would you say to them?

Rafique Shah:

I don't believe there is only one way to understand an abstract painting. Every viewer brings their own experiences, memories and emotions when they stand in front of an artwork. Naturally, two people looking at the same painting can experience it in completely different ways.

For me, that's what makes abstract art so interesting. Once a painting leaves my studio, it no longer belongs only to me. It begins a new conversation with every person who encounters it. Their interpretation is just as valuable because the meaning of the work continues to grow through those individual experiences.

Shalu Yadav: One of the most noticeable elements in your work is the use of white space. What does it represent for you?

Rafique Shah:

People often think of white space as emptiness, but I don't see it that way. For me, it gives the painting room to breathe. If every part of the canvas is equally active, the viewer never gets a moment to pause.

The white spaces create balance. They slow the eye down and allow the surrounding colours to become more visible and more meaningful. Sometimes what hasn't been painted carries as much weight as the painted surface itself. That quiet space becomes part of the conversation between the artwork and the viewer.

Vikas Garg: Looking back, how has your relationship with painting evolved?

Rafique Shah:

Every experience changes the way we paint. The person I was ten years ago isn't the same person I am today, so naturally, my work has changed too. Every conversation, every place I visit, every book I read, every piece of music I listen to becomes part of the way I see the world.

I don't think learning ever stops for an artist. As we grow, our understanding deepens, and that gradual change quietly finds its way into the paintings. The work continues to evolve because life itself continues to evolve.

Vikas Garg: Many artists are inspired by painters they admire. How do you see influence?

Rafique Shah:

Every artist learns from someone. During our early years, it's natural to observe other painters, study their techniques and understand how they think. That is an important part of becoming an artist.

But after a certain point, you have to begin finding your own voice. Influence helps you learn, but it shouldn't become imitation. The real journey begins when you start creating work that feels true to your own experiences rather than trying to paint like someone else.

Vikas Garg: Many emerging artists are trying to build their own practice. What would you tell them?

Rafique Shah:

I would say don't be in a hurry to achieve success. Spend time understanding your own work first. Read books, visit exhibitions, listen to music, observe people and pay attention to the world around you. All of these experiences slowly become part of your artistic language.

Your style cannot be developed overnight. It grows through patience, curiosity and continuous practice. The more honestly you engage with your own experiences, the more authentic your work will become.

Vikas Garg: If someone leaves the exhibition with one thought, what would you want that to be?

Rafique Shah:

I hope people don't feel pressured to understand every painting immediately. Instead, I hope they spend time on the work. Some paintings reveal themselves slowly, and that's perfectly fine.

If someone leaves the exhibition feeling a little more reflective or discovers something about themselves while looking at the paintings, I feel the work has fulfilled its purpose. Art doesn't always need to provide answers. Sometimes it simply creates space for us to ask better questions.