Art
Looking back at a bygone era
by Hasanul Banna Joy
There are lots of art galleries now in Dhaka city that are giving floor to upcoming new artists. Young artists are showcasing their works at solo or group exhibitions on a regular basis at these galleries.
With the advancement of art in our country, some restaurants and cafes have also set up galleries on their premises to promote Bangladeshi art.
The latest such venture, Peda Ting Ting Gallery Caf in Gulshan, recently arranged a joint art exhibition, titled Anamnesis, by two young artists, Iskindar Mirza and Mazharul Islam.
The 29 paintings on display feature two artists with very different styles of art.
Iskindar Mirza paints various objects of nature, whereas Mazharul Islam loves to colour his complex thoughts. The artists use acrylic, watercolour and oil as mediums to bring their art to life.
Anamnesis means to look back in Greek. The exhibition offers the viewers a journey back in time with the artists to a bygone era. At the same time, they get glimpses of the artists minds through the paintings.
Their works display different experiences of painting. The two artists show their take on art in this show. I think the combination of colour and drawing will surely attract art lovers, renowned artist Kanak Chanpa Chakma said while inaugurating the show on Oct 6.
Iskindar Mirza, who majored in Oriental art, likes to work with watercolour on paper. His brushstrokes are unique. He has on show 21 paintings that depict realistic, semi realistic and conceptual forms.
Through his works, the artist reveals the almost unchanged lifestyle of Old Dhaka. His creations take us on a journey back to the prevailing traditions of the old city.
His paintings of horses, such as Horse of Old Dhaka and Crazy Horse, are special in terms of colour combination and line.
With the advancement of modern transport, two-wheeled horse-drawn carriages have disappeared. They were once ubiquitous in the city. I wanted to depict such a traditional mode of transport in my artwork, said Iskindar.
In his paintings, he also tries to seek happiness in nature _ his portraits of flowers certainly give a glimpse of his own. Iskindar, who has a Masters degree from Dhaka Universitys Fine Arts Faculty, has participated in numerous group exhibitions. Last year, he won the 19th Berger Young Painters Competition Award-2014.
On the other hand, Mazharul Islam reveals dark emotions, sufferings and complexities of human life in abstract and conceptual forms in his paintings. He does not have any academic training in art, but he has a great passion for expressing himself through painting.
In his work, Hope in darkness, he draws a tree without leaves and a moon in symbolic form. Here, he presents the moon as a hope in darkness. He uses acrylic paint on canvas. Another painting, called Destruction, makes bold use of red, black and white.
When a person becomes greedy for power, then destruction comes into his life, the artist explained.
The English literature graduate, who identifies himself as a freelance artist, has taken part in group exhibitions at home and abroad.
Md Abdul Aziz, assistant professor of Oriental Art Department, Faculty of Fine Arts, was also present, among others, at the opening.
Anamnesis is the second exhibition at Peda Ting Ting Gallery Caf. The first exhibition, by indigenous artists, was held in May.
The curator of the present exhibition, Nazmul Nayeem, said the gallerys main aim is to promote young Bangladeshi artists by arranging their shows.
Located on Road 26/27 in Gulshan-1, the caf-cum-restaurant is popular for its signature dishes from the hill tracts that are cooked stuffed inside bamboo or banana leaves in traditional Chakma style. The restaurant is designed like a typical bamboo and wood jhum house, with a large open verandah.
The exhibition will remain open until Oct 21,from 2 pm to 10 pm daily.
