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Artworks
Rathin Barman
Space Counts 75, 2025Charcoal on brass inlaid cast concrete16 x 16 x 1 in
40.6 x 40.6 x 2.5 cmSpace Counts are concrete relief sculptures with that highlight altered, arches, and pillars. These forms are drawn from the architectural elements and renderings of grand colonial homes in North Kolkata,...Space Counts are concrete relief sculptures with that highlight altered, arches, and pillars. These forms are drawn from the architectural elements and renderings of grand colonial homes in North Kolkata, which Rathin Barman (b. 1981) has engaged with for many years. This body of work also stands as a metaphor for the makeshift tenements and adaptive architectural interventions introduced to accommodate expanding families or migrant tenants—individuals who have, over generations, made these homes their own. Barman explores the notion of ‘home’ as a living organism, using a precise conjunction of disembodied built forms and the simultaneous renewal of future possibilities. In contrast to the perceived permanence of architectural structures, his work underscores how the configuration of spaces and architectural features morph over time, reflecting the shifting contexts and lives of their inhabitants. In Barman’s practice, architecture becomes an anthropological tool—the representation of space emerges not only from spontaneous, sensorial responses but also from deeply personal connections forged with the residents of these evolving homes.