REVIEW: A Portrait of the Witch – Taschen’s New Art History of Witchcraft
Witches’ Sabbath – Francisco Goya To most people, the word ‘witch’ conjures images of old crones with pointy hats flying into the moonlight on broomsticks. Outsiders in league with malevolent forces, they cast spells on those who wrong them. Our current perceptions of witches and witchcraft are still largely shaped by the propaganda cooked up by King James I in the 1590s, memorialised by Shakespeare in the witches of Macbeth.
With ‘Witchcraft,’ a new coffee table tome published by Taschen, co-editors Jessica Hundley and Pam Grossman have gone a long way towards changing this perception. From the origins of the word ‘witch’ to the practices of witches today, they chart the history of witchcraft across the world through over 400 artworks, as well as essays and interviews with historians, artists and modern practitioners.
Interview: The Enchanted World of Ashraful Arefin
“Those who don’t believe in magic will never find it.” – Roald Dahl
With so much doom and gloom in the world today, many of us are looking for ways we can escape without getting on a plane and flying away. Fine art photographer Ashraful Arefin has found a way to do just that – discovering magic and enchantment in everyday objects. Dreamy and ethereal, Ashraful’s photographs remind us that there can be beauty everywhere if you look for it. If you’re suffering from lockdown anxiety, these images will help to soothe your mind with a moment of peace, quiet and calm reflection.
After being captivated by his Flower Stories and the fantastical Alice in Wonderland themed cinemagraphs on his website, I was so excited to have the opportunity to ask Ashraful a few questions about his work and inspiration.
You are renowned for bringing everyday objects to life with a sense of fantasy and childlike wonder. What inspires your magical outlook on life?
I used to daydream about dreamy scenes and fantasy stuff when I was a little boy. When I started photography, I wanted to express those ideas and my imagination. Also all the fantasy storybooks, and Harry Potter movies really inspire me to add magical elements to everyday life.
Your photography brings a sense of peace, quiet and reflection. I wondered how living in a busy city such as Dhaka has influenced your work?
I think since I have lived in the chaos and crowd of Dhaka, I learned to appreciate quiet and peaceful moments more and this inspired me to look for these moments. Especially when I started shooting streets, I saw people even in the middle of a large crowd taking time to relax or just getting lost in their world. That inspired me to create these quiet atmospheres.
They say a picture is worth a thousand words. I noticed you often include literary quotes alongside your work. Do you have any favourite authors who continue to inspire you?
I do love the poems and songs of Rabindranath Tagore. Also, I am a big fan of Rumi. His words and wisdom have always been inspirational to me.
Having studied Fine Art before photography, were there any artists you particularly admired, and what drew you to their work?
I am obsessed with the works of Rembrandt. I studied his paintings when I was a student of fine art and his lighting techniques have a big influence on my work. Another one of my most favourite artists is Claude Monet. I learned about colours by studying his works and I always try to apply those techniques in my photography.
Are you able to say anything about any current or upcoming projects?
Currently, I am working on a series of cinemagraphs inspired by Harry Potter and the wizarding world. I am also planning to create a cinemagraph series inspired by 16th century Dutch still life paintings.
You can check out more of Ashraful’s work here:
About the Artist: Ashraful Arefin is a Fine Art Photographer based in Dhaka, Bangladesh. He started studying Fine Arts and chose Graphic Design as his major at university. Ashraful was photographically born in 2013 when he completely fell in love with photography and found his true passion for it. Ashraful tries to portray his appreciation for the beauty of simple things through his work, capturing beauty and emotion within his photographic frame by using colours and simple techniques.
Copyright: All pictures in this post are copyrighted Ashraful Arefin. Their reproduction, even in part, is forbidden without the explicit approval of the rightful owners.
