Abstract expressionism at its best

Renowned expatriate artist Anowar Hossain's latest solo exhibition titled “Rethinking Abstraction” was inaugurated on September 8 at Noho-M55 Gallery in New York, USA. Anowar, who started his career as a realist, is now viewed as a popular emerging master of American abstract expressionism. The exhibition will continue till September 26.

Anowar Hossain's paintings are vibrant and a sensitive approach to his personal feelings on the visual medium. In his abstracts as well as his portraits and drawings, the artist brings the work alive with his individual vision, exuberant brushstroke and highly creative palette. There is a story in every colour, line and stroke.

The artist's masterful colour uses, sharp lines, geometric cubism, rhythmic strokes and contours recount the saga of his personal feelings, acquired experiences and individual beliefs. Thus he has created an art language of his own. His recent works, displayed at the exhibition, evoke innovative forms while his euphoric use of red and green is suggestive of his deeply embedded feelings of patriotism.     

“For me, colour expression is very personal. I like using bright colours. When I put them side by side relating to each other on the canvas, it gives me a great feeling,” the artist said over the telephone from USA.

Anowar, an incessant explorer of art since an early age, believes that human life is firmly intertwined with nature and the universe. “Everything we do in our life has an outcome and we have to remember that truth,” said the artist.

An ardent fan of 20th century masters like Pablo Picasso, Willem de Kooning and Mark Rothko, Anowar cited Picasso's famous statement: “Learn the rules like a pro, so you can break them like an artist.” He prefers oil painting to other mediums as having a mutable quality.

Anowar has a number of solo and group art exhibitions and awards to his credit. His depiction of Mexican painters Frida Kahlo and Diego Rivera earned him accolades. Displaying over 55 paintings on legendary pop singer Michael Jackson along with several monochromic abstracts works, one of his solo exhibitions was held in 2009. Anowar's “War on Oil” series is an expression of his stance against war. His “Hurricane Katrina” blew away American art aficionados. His recent portrait works on Paris-based mime maestro Partha Pratim Majumder also garnered accolades.

Anowar Hossain comes from a family of artists, scholars and aficionados of art and culture. A young Anowar came to the USA in the 1980s and became involved with the flourishing New York art community through his art study and training at The School of Visual Arts and The Art Students League of New York. His works have been displayed in many galleries and exhibitions both in North America and Europe.