Visual Culture, Folk Aesthetics, and Cultural Identity in Contemporary Rickshaw Art of Dhaka - Nabila Haque Mitu

Abstract : Dhaka’s rickshaw art is one of the most distinctive urban folk art forms in Bangladesh. It transforms an ordinary vehicle into a moving work of art. This art form makes visible the culture, aesthetics, collective memory and social identity of the city’s common people. This study analyses how folk beauty and cultural identity are represented in contemporary Dhaka’s rickshaw art. The study uses a qualitative research methodology. Data were collected through field observation, photographic documentation and informal conversations with rickshaw artists, drivers and garage owners. A total of 485 rickshaws were documented and 324 selected photographs were reviewed through thematic analysis. The study identified eight main visual themes: movie posters, fictional birds and animals, Alpona, rural scenes, domed buildings, written texts, advertisements and blank boards. These motifs highlight the multifaceted expression of Bengali aesthetic taste, religious symbols and popular culture. The uniqueness of this study is that it evaluates the contemporary rickshaw art through a combination of extensive field data and visual analysis, which provides a new perspective to understand the changing character of urban folk art. This study makes an important contribution to the discussion on visual culture, folk aesthetics and cultural identity in Dhaka. The results of the study provide an important foundation for future research on urban folk art conservation, cultural heritage protection and related issues. Keywords: Rickshaw Art, Visual Culture, Folk Aesthetics, Cultural Identity, Urban Folk Art, Bangladesh.