Firi Rahman’s (b. 1990, Colombo) work is often concerned with the contentious relationship between humankind and the animal kingdom. He is particularly interested in the interactions between animals and urban environments, and the responsibility societies share in protecting biodiversity. His works brought to life through his sombre and monochromatic style, are an intimate and sensitive engagement with wildlife. Even in their minimalism, the dexterity of his skill and close engagement with the subject imbues it with a palpable quality — compelling an empathetic response from the viewer.
Firi earned a Foundation in Art and Design (2012) from City and Guilds at Manchester College in the United Kingdom. He is a cofounder of We Are From Here, a collective project which highlights a deeply interconnected community in Slave Island whose home-base is increasingly threatened by gentrification for state and corporate interests.
Firi’s work has been exhibited at Rajiv Menon Contemporary, Los Angeles (2024), Shahnaz Gallery, London (2024), India Art Fair (2023 and 2024), To Lunuganga, Geoffrey Bawa Trust (2023), Dhaka Art Summit, Dhaka (2023), Colomboscope, Colombo (2016 and 2019), and Colombo Art Biennale, Colombo (2016). His works belong to private collections in Sri Lanka, Switzerland, India, the United Kingdom, and the USA. He was also selected for the Cité Internationales des Arts residency in France (2023).