Rajesh Barman, an artist with origins in the rural landscape of North Bengal, draws much of his inspiration from the environment where he grew up and received his early education. Having moved to Kolkata for higher studies, his art has evolved to reflect the complex relationship between his rural beginnings and the urban life he now navigates. This transition has shaped his artistic inquiry, leading him to explore concepts that bridge the gap between these two worlds. In his search for a visual language that unites his past and present, Barman discovered a connection in tin sheets and corrugated metal surfaces. "These sheets," he says, "can be found everywhere, whether in rural villages or in the heart of Kolkata." Used as roofing or walls in village homes, these ubiquitous materials also permeate the urban environment, serving as a symbolic link between the two. Barman is particularly fascinated by the reflective, shiny surfaces of these materials. He explains, "I am drawn to the high reflectance and illumination of these objects because they bring a certain drama to my work—a drama of shallow space and restricted exaltation." His paintings capture this dramatic interplay of light and shadow, creating a visual metaphor for the emotional and psychological journey of a rural soul grappling with the complexities of urban existence. The reflective surfaces seem to mirror this internal struggle, representing the bewilderment and astonishment he feels in his new surroundings. Focusing on close-up views of metallic corrugated sheets, Barman emphasizes his desire to remain faithful to the retinal reality of the objects. Yet, he observes that in the act of painting, the play of light, shade, and reflections on these surfaces transforms them into something unfamiliar. "Interestingly, the glittering parts of the metal surface, combined with light and shadow, create forms and shapes that appear alien to us, simply because we don’t usually observe these objects so closely," he notes. This shift in perspective allows him to extract an unknown image from a commonly known and familiar object, challenging the viewer to see the world in a new light. Barman’s work occupies an intriguing space between naturalism and abstraction. While his paintings are based on real-world materials, the close-up composition and focus on texture and light often blur the line between representational and abstract art. "Even in this overtly naturalistic style of painting," he reflects, "the composition begins to simulate the appearance of non-representational art." This ambiguity—the creation of abstraction through a naturalistic approach—fascinates him, and he finds joy in this journey of exploration. For Barman, this artistic process is not merely about documenting the physical world but about transforming everyday objects into vehicles for deeper introspection. His works encourage the viewer to look beyond the surface and engage with the unexpected beauty and complexity of familiar materials, making his art an exploration of both form and meaning. His work exhibited in numerous art exhibitions like, "DIVERGENT TERRAINS" curated by Suresh Jayaram at Ami arts festival an initiative of Kolkata centre for creativity and emami art gallery Kolkata in 2022; Rajya Charu Kala Parshad annual exhibition at academy of fine arts in 2022; "ASSEASON OF CONVIVIALITY" Kala Bhavana after hundred years, An exhibition to mark the centenary of kala bhavana and Visva Bharti university at Lalit Kala academy New Delhi in 2022; The Bombay art society 129 th all India annual art exhibition in 2021; State academy annual exhibition at ICCR gallery Kolkata in 2020; All India academy of fine arts annual exhibition kolkata in 2019; Emami art fair an initiative of Kolkata centre for creativity in 2019. He also participated several art work shop like, "Conservation and Restoration of textile objects" at kala bhavana Visva-Bharti university Shantiniketan in 2022 supported by INTACH conservation institute Kolkata; painting workshop organised by the central reserve police force (CRPF) West Bengal in association with Kolkata museum of modern art (KMOMA) Salt Lake kolkata in 2019; Emami art fair workshop at Kolkata centre for creativity in 2019; Rajya charukala Parshad annual art workshop at Rabindra Sadan Kolkata in 2019. Rajya charukala Parshad residential workshop at cooch Behar in 2012. Currently he practicing art from his hometown cooch Behar district.