Rendezvous with 3D artist Ata Mojlish

Ata Mojlish is one of the emerging modern multimedia artists, whose work has made an impact upon people who rebel against the negativity dominant in our society.

The Daily Star sat down with Ata Mojlish, so that we could all dive into his intriguing world.

Who is Ata Mojlish?

I'm a Bangladeshi born multimedia artist who currently resides in Texas, US. I am also a guest lecturer at the University of Liberal Arts Bangladesh. I am one of the founders of Cartoon People. I am still partially confused about my identity, as sometimes I feel I am both in Bangladesh and the US, but at times I feel like I belong nowhere.

How did you become an artist?

My work began in a digital setting, eventually branching into multiple directions like photo-manipulation, superimposition, videography, sounds, etc. I started making artworks when I migrated to the US. For me, it was the only way to survive the existential angst I felt while staying there as an immigrant. I felt suffocated and chose to channel it into something. That is how I became a multimedia artist. I had no academic training on this front.

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Why did you choose this particular medium?

I am a person who is rebellious in his own way. I would rather deliver discomfort through my art, than make them look pretty just to gain approval from others. Several of my works feature my emotions and thought-process, which are hardly comfortable. My pieces reflect how I see capitalistic exploitation.

Moreover, I often feel disconnected to people, to this world, and that is when I feel this unquenchable thirst to create something. I choose mundane objects and turn them into a different narrative. For example, I selected a vehicle and I superimposed another image with a quote I liked, and the outcome became an image that tells an entirely different story.

Tell us about some of your favorite projects.

"Living with Uncle Sam" shows the dialogue of an immigrant whereas "Decay" depicts the damage on our planet via human silhouettes. There is one work I like where I captured the image of my bare hand's shadow on the lights reflected by an ambulance. At that moment, due to my own existential dread, I wanted to switch places with the sick person who was about to pass away.

What would you like to suggest to someone pursuing this line of work?

First of all, know that you're only a human being, and you have limitations. In order to please others, an artist should never stray from reflecting their own minds on their art. Secondly, one must always try to learn new things and techniques without putting a certain label on themselves. This is how a person evolves into a more skillful, superior being.