Artist | Md Tokon | Rockella Space

MEMBER FEATURE:

MD TOKON, Artist

Our monthly Member Feature aims to showcase the talent that occupies our buildings and celebrate their work.

This month, we interviewed Rockella Space Member Md Tokon to better understand how abstraction is a tool to grasp the essence of the East and the West in his work.

Md spent his early years in Jhenidah and Dhaka and has lived and worked in the United States for the last twenty-four years. He attended The Art Students League of New York – an institution that counts the likes of Mark Rothko, Jackson Pollock Cy Twonbly, Helen Frankenthaler, and many noted in its alumni. He also obtained his B.A in Studio Art and Design at the City University of New York. Recently, his works have been exhibited at the Queens Museum of Art, New York; Hammond Museum, Nort Salem, New York; Jacob K. Javits Convention Center, New York; John David Mooney Foundation, Chicago, Art Southampton; Drake Art Summit; Bengal Foundation, Dhaka; Edge, The Foundation, Dhala and many more. Md Tokon is represented by Bonhams Auction House, London, Trimper Gallery Greenwich, Connecticut, The White Room Gallery, and Bridgehampton, New York

Md Tokon has been a Rockella Space Member since we first opened up back in 2017 and has a studio at Brown Bears Studios.

To learn more about the creatives who call Rockella Space home, head over to the People page for a full list of in-depth interviews.

 

Md in his studio at Brown Bears Studios

Who are you and what do you do?

 

My name is Md Tokon, and I was born in Bangladesh. Despite growing up in a neighborhood not known for supporting artistic endeavors, I realized my dream with the support of my family. As a teenager, I was inspired to pursue a career as an artist. I created my first real painting at around 10 years old. Throughout my childhood, my kindergarten and elementary school books were filled with drawings in every empty space. Even while studying, my hands were always moving, sketching—much to the annoyance of some of my teachers. From a young age, I felt deeply connected to nature. The land, the forest, the river, the rain, the thunderstorm, the sky, the clouds, the light, and the dark were all my best friends.

My formal journey began at Dhaka University of Fine Arts in 1998, where I studied painting for two years before moving to New York in 2001. For the past 24 years, I have lived and worked in the United States. I attended the prestigious Art Students League of New York, an institution with notable alumni such as Mark Rothko, Jackson Pollock, Cy Twombly, and Helen Frankenthaler. I also earned my B.A. in Art and Communication Design from The City University of New York.

The path to becoming a prolific painter in New York was not easy. My first job in New York was in construction, where I painted houses for a week or two at a time. I fell in love with it. Every house wall I painted felt like my canvas. At one point, I lived in a single room where I would sleep, eat, and paint.

Recently, my works have been exhibited at various prestigious venues, including the Queens Museum of Art in New York, the Hammond Museum in North Salem, New York, the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center in New York, the John David Mooney Foundation in Chicago, Art Southampton, the Dhaka Art Summit, the Bengal Foundation in Dhaka, and Edge, The Foundation in Dhaka. My work is also represented by Bonhams Auction House in London, Trimper Gallery in Greenwich, Connecticut, and The White Room Gallery in Bridgehampton, New York.

How long have you been at Rockella Space and what is your favorite thing about having a studio at Brown Bears Studios?

 

I believe I was one of the first artists to take a studio when Brown Bears Studios were built in 2016. For the past eight years, I rented studio 308, a 200-square-foot space. I viewed the studio as a sacred place, akin to a prayer room. Despite the mess, I found that I couldn’t paint in a clean space—it gave me the freedom, mood, and energy I needed. The room was beautiful, and I could see the sunset every day.

While at Brown Bears Studios, I dreamed of a larger space, but financial constraints made it difficult. Despite this, I kept pushing myself. This year, I finally moved into studio 214, which is double the size of my previous studio. I believe that a bigger studio allows for bigger paintings and bigger dreams. Slowly but surely, my dream is becoming more powerful.

There are many things I love about having a studio at Brown Bears. The building itself has a lot of character. When I am in my studio, I can lose myself in my work. My favorite features are the large windows, high ceilings, and wood floors, which provide proper sunlight. I also feel that the neighborhood is improving because of the Studio Building.

Have you connected and/or created a community with any other artists in the building?

 

Before having a studio at Brown Bears, I painted at The Art Students League of New York, where many artists worked together in a large room under the guidance of an instructor. All of us were visual artists, creating in a shared space. Brown Bears Studios, however, is different. Each artist has their own unique space and creative field.

The hallways became the place where I first met people. Gradually, we became friends and learned about each other’s work, stories, and lives. Whenever I needed an extra hand to move large paintings, I could always find someone around the building willing to help.

The Open Studios events are also fantastic. They provide an opportunity to meet many artists and other tenants, and to see everyone’s work in person.

Tell us about your work. What inspires you to create the work that you do?

 

My recent abstractions focus on color, light, darkness, and space. My work draws parallels with music, poetry, and nature, resulting in creations that are simple, pure, and organic. The outcomes are highly emotional, energetic, and sensational. I am deeply in love with color and the cities I grew up in. My understanding of soil layers comes from childhood experiences, especially watching my mother care for the walls of our soil house.

On canvas, I am profoundly influenced by the layers of soil, gardens, light, surfaces, music lyrics, harmony, invention, monochrome, and minimalism. I have developed a significant body of work that is often both poetic and visually pleasing, while also being rooted in my diverse theoretical interests and extensive travels. My paintings feature an opaque and dense surface of substance and mass, yet they appear luminescent as if the light is trapped within the layers. This creates a highly emotional and peaceful effect.

How do you start a work? Tell us about your process.

 

My studio is like a prayer garden. Both the studio and my studio outfits are sources of spiritual power for me. As soon as I arrive and change into my studio clothes, I get into the mood and jump onto the canvas. Sometimes, I sit in the studio from early morning, but the inspiration only comes in the afternoon. It might be sparked by a lyric, the sunshine, the rain, or a simple smile. That’s just how I am. The mood can develop over an hour, a day, or even a week. When I’m in the studio, I usually stay for the whole day. The process feels like a hungry man needing food.

The paintings build up in my mind, especially since I can’t come to the studio every day. Sometimes, I think about a painting for a long time before starting. When I begin, it’s on a blank canvas. Then I discover many colors, a river, a mountain, and finally, the sky. My painting process evolves this way, sometimes guided by my unconscious mind or by accident. Often, I don’t know what’s happening or where it will end.

People ask me how long it takes to finish a painting. My answer is always 46 years, because I am 46 now. It’s not about how long the work takes to finish, but how long you’ve been thinking about it and how deeply you relate to the painting—with your childhood and various memories. I cannot dream without memories, and I cannot create memories without dreams. They are intertwined, stuck together at a crossroads. I paint what I dream.

If you were to invite anyone alive or dead to a dinner party, who would be on your guest list?

 

Vincent van Gogh, Pablo Picasso, Claude Monet, Mark Rothko, Jackson Pollock, Willem de Kooning, Philip Guston, Cy Twombly, Jalaluddin Mohammad Rumi,  Princess Diana, Bob Dylan, Bob Marley, Prince Rogers Nelson, Joni Mitchell, Zaha Hadid, Helen Frankenthaler, Mark Bradford, Rabindranath Tagore, kazi Nazrul Islam, Mohammad Kibria, Marilyn Monroe, Keanu Reeves, Anthony Bourdain and many more.

What advice would you give to aspiring artists, particularly those from diverse backgrounds, who are looking to pursue a career in the art world?

 

It is no small accomplishment to transition from one culture to another, absorbing everything and producing works while pursuing a career in the art world. Artists often face significant challenges, but I believe that good work speaks for itself. My advice is to work very hard and create high-quality art. Develop your own unique style. Visit galleries and museums frequently, and research the works of other artists. You may find connections that inspire you. Additionally, try to network within the art community. Sometimes, success also involves a bit of luck.

What projects/exhibitions have you got coming up?

 

I am excited to share some thrilling upcoming exhibitions and events. This summer, my work will be featured in the prestigious 2024 Summer Online Auction at Bonhams Auction House in London. This event represents a significant opportunity to reach a broader, global audience, and I am honored to be included among such esteemed artists.

In August 2024, I will have the privilege of hosting a private solo show at the beautiful Village of Lake Tuxedo Park in New York. This intimate setting will allow me to connect more closely with attendees and share the stories and inspirations behind my latest works.

Looking ahead to 2025, I am thrilled to announce another solo show at the esteemed Trimper Gallery in Greenwich, Connecticut. This exhibition promises to be a milestone in my career, as I will be showcasing a new body of work that I have been developing over the past few years.

These upcoming exhibitions mark significant milestones in my artistic journey, and I am grateful for the opportunity to share my work with new and returning audiences.

Where can people see your work in IRL or online, and how can people contact you for a studio visit

People can see my work both in person and online through various platforms and exhibitions.

In Real Life (IRL):

  • Bonhams Auction House, London: My work will be featured in the 2024 Summer Online Auction.
  • Village of Lake Tuxedo Park, NY: I have a private solo show coming up in August 2024.
  • Trimper Gallery, Greenwich, CT: A solo exhibition is scheduled for 2025.

Online:

  • Website: You can view a comprehensive collection of my work and upcoming events on my official website.
  • Instagram: I regularly update my Instagram profile with my latest creations and exhibition details.

Contact for Studio Visits: I welcome studio visits by appointment. To schedule a visit, you can contact me directly through instagram. I look forward to sharing my creative space and process with you.

Feel free to reach out with any inquiries or to arrange a visit. I look forward to connecting with art enthusiasts and fellow creatives.