By Takir Hossain, April 7, 2009Bengal Gallery of Fine Arts has organised a group art exhibition, titled “Rhythm of Colours,” at Hunar Art Gallery, Dubai. The exhibition features works of seven Bangladeshi painters: Qayyum Chowdhury, Hashem Khan, Rafiqun Nabi, Monirul Islam, Nazlee Laila Mansur, Ranjit Das and Maksuda Iqbal Nipa.
Vibrant colours, profound strokes and the characteristic green that defines Bangladesh are vital elements of Hashem Khan's paintings. Khan has contributed immensely to our art for over 40 years. Most of his works are done in oil and some are in acrylic. The dominant features in his works are the lives of the masses, fishing in the rivers, village belles, 'pitha' (rice cakes) making, cultivation in the alluvial soil, rich harvest, boats with sails floating on the rivers, moonlit night and more that define the pastoral life. Various abstract forms also find a place on his canvas. The artist is fastidious about his use of space, which gives an outstanding depth to his work.Rafiqun Nabi is well known for his paintings, woodcut prints and drawings. His paintings delightfully project the serene ambience of nature. Colours usually used by the artist are azure, yellow, ochre, red, black and emerald green -- representing rural Bengal. The colours give a torrential and imposing feel. Nabi does figurative work, painting rural folk, fishermen, kingfishers, broken bridges, buffaloes, boats, crows, wild flowers, people at leisure and gossiping. His landscapes transport the viewer to a higher realm. The artist arranges motifs in different combinations of light and shade.Monirul Islam is easily recognised as he can interpret life's diverse dimensions with his unparallel style, techniques and arrangement where colours, lines, textures and forms blend in synchronisation. His works generally highlight a dominance of mixed media, watercolour, oil, collage and acrylic. When Monir visits Bangladesh, he uses paper (a particular uneven kind that's used in packing baked food or sweets) as his medium and corrugated board. His lines are very provocative and define new dimensions. At times His works appear technique-oriented. Hope, memory, dreams, nightmares and yearning are common themes in Monir's works.
Ranjit Das is celebrated for his flamboyant style and thought-provoking themes. From the beginning, Ranjit's works have been close to the bucolic countryside and the rural way of life. A large number of Ranjit's works depict villagers with domesticated and, often, wild animals. Their passion, pain, pleasure, bliss, contentment and dreams emerge on his canvas. All his works have in the background a story, which is familiar to us. His works give the viewer a real picture of our socio-political and economic structure. A figurative painter, Ranjit's works are distinguished for their disciplined, mindful and imposing use of colour with the compositions of semi-abstract and symbolic patterns.Maksuda Iqbal (affectionately known as Nipa) is an upcoming painter who has been trying to carve a niche in our arena of art. She likes to experiment with colour in all its various facets. Texture gives a distinct look to her work. Nipa applies colour directly, piling up thick layers on the canvas. She concentrates more on the application aspect. This creates a hallmark for her canvas.
The exhibition ends on April 9.
Source: http://www.thedailystar.net
By Mridul Mamun / April 7, 2009
