Of colours, forms and artistic senses

A group painting exhibition titled “Sholokala”, featuring diverse works of 16 artists ended April 30 at Zainul Gallery-1 and 2, Faculty of Fine Art (FFA), University of Dhaka (DU). Eminent artists Rafiqun Nabi and Professor Nisar Hossain, Dean of FFA, DU with noted art critic Moinuddin Khaled inaugurated the week long exhibition on April 24.

Azharul Islam Chanchal, chairman of the Department of Ceramics, FFA, DU organised the show. Interestingly none of the participating artists have any academic certificates from the Department of Drawing and Painting, but 14 of them are teachers while BM Jamal Hossain is a counsellor of Bangladesh Deputy High Commission, Kolkata and Masudur Rahman is co-founder, Vertical Art and Craft Research, Dhaka. 

Apart from their being artists, Abdul Momen Milton, Azharul Islam Chanchal, Debashis Pal, Farjana Ahmed, Faruk Ahamad Mullah, G C Trivedi, Kantideb Adhikary, Mohammad Subbir-Al Razy, Mukul Kumar Barai, Reza Asad Al Huda Anupam, Robiul Islam are teachers at various departments of FFA, DU while Morzia Sumi and Umme Habiba (Shuchi) are teachers at Maple Leaf International School Dhaka and Dr. Shabin Shahriar is the chairman of the Department of Theatre, University of Rajshahi.

The artists displayed their three acrylic works on canvases. Robiul Islam's blue-coloured peacock searches for rain in the scorching heat while Mukul Kumar Barai's expressionistic portraits evoke a rhythm of colours and ambiance. Kantideb Adhikary's “Uncertain Life-10” is a beautiful depiction of greenery (small ferns) emerging from cracks in  a wall reminds us that life is transitory. G C Trivedi marvelously portrays oriental line-based folk paintings. The artist beautifully depicts Bengali feminine grace in a rather mature tint of yellow, red and green.  

Dr. Azharul Islam Chanchal portrays heritage on canvas. His depiction of a black and blue -shade door, leads to the mysterious nuances of a Jibanananda Das poem “Nogno Nirjon Haat”.

Abdul Momen Milton's works are suggestive of folk concepts while Debashis Pal's work titled “Game” is interesting in theme, geometric forms and colours.