The love for ‘dots’ began at the age of 12. The desire to be different came when everyone took ordinary pictures with Bakarka to the world of stitches. My father taught me to draw and inspired me when there was no internet…
If you want to know what ‘Kshama’ means, ask Bakarka, a native of Thrissur Kurukancheri. Every day thousands of ‘spots’ flow from the Baccara pen to the white paper. These dots turn into lakhs over days. Abu Bakr lives in Dubai and works wonders with stitches.
Do you know the number of dots that fell on the A One paper when the picture of Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President of the United Arab Emirates, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai was finished? About 50 lakh stitches. Bakkarka has put in this single paper many times a lifetime that we have put in full stop. It took three years to complete the painting, which is three feet high and five feet wide.
The love for ‘dots’ began at the age of 12. The desire to be different came when everyone took ordinary pictures with Bakarka to the world of stitches. My father taught me to draw and inspired me when there was no internet.
The pictures printed in the newspapers of that time were of low quality. A lot of it looks like the dots have been put together. After seeing this, I thought of drawing by putting dots. I was not interested in painting color pictures then and now. The first thing I took was a picture of an advertisement in a newspaper. I still have the picture of that line.
Even when it came to the diaspora, Bakarka stuck to the line. The desire is to take a picture of the rulers of the seven emirates of the United Arab Emirates and present it to them personally. The portrait of the ruler of Fujairah Sheikh Hamad bin Mohammed Al Sharqi was personally presented to him.
The photo of Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak, mother of the President of the United Arab Emirates Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, was also submitted by someone else. On that very day, he was called to the Abu Dhabi palace and presented with a priceless award. The portrait of Sheikh Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, ruler of Sharjah, was painted with 16 lakh stitches in eight months.
Bakar is currently being painted by Sheikh Humaid bin Rashid Al Nuaimi, the ruler of Ajman. Sheikh Humaid and his children were photographed in one frame. Bakar’s film, Theiyath is also being prepared. Group Chairman Lulu MA Yusufali and others have taken their photos and given them in person.
Drawing Bakr with four fingers is something we cannot do with five fingers. Bakr lost his middle finger in an accident in Abu Dhabi a decade and a half ago. But Bakr has enough thumb and index finger to hold the pen. Bakar’s pictures are born in his right hand which is still not quite right. It takes at least 7 days for the A3 size photos to be finished. Vara sits for 3-4 hours a day depending on the mood.
Bakker, the house driver, pulls in the breaks. The number of dots in each picture will be different. A dark shade will require more stitches. A few dots are enough for a light shade. The dots in the images cannot be counted. Therefore, the dots are calculated at 2000-2500 dots per square inch. Bakr also takes orders and gives drawings to the needy. Arifa Naufal’s wife and Binaf are the children.
