Holding natural and traditional heritage high

Renowned sculptor Hamiduzzaman Khan's mastery is not limited to sculpture; his luminous watercolours have earned him accolades far and wide and established him as a versatile artist. His painting is a reflection of water, which is translucent in nature. As a master of composition, he loves to portray both the bright and dark sides of any subject. Drenched by the balanced flow of his deft colour use, the paper determines the volume, weight and perspective of the object. The objects turn real, sometimes surreal and often resurface in consciousness revealing the soul of the subjects.

Though he is recognised for his metal-based works, where he mainly focuses on forms and geometric shapes, his watercolours symbolise nature and its elements coupled with time-honoured feminine faces of Bengal. His latest solo exhibition titled “Of nature, boats and faces”, opens at Shilpangan Gallery in Dhanmondi on September 30.

The exhibition embodies a harmony of nature, riverine landscapes, different shaped boats and feminine faces. Monsoonal grace, fresh vegetation and fishing boats reign supreme in many of his artworks displayed at the exhibit. Some of his watercolours relay the ecstasy of aesthetic elements. The serenity of the “yellow river” that we find as a metaphor in a Jibanananda Das poem; the sombreness of grey twilight; the romance of orange and crimson reflected in a sun-setting river and a mysterious game of cobalt blue and black --all these have been beautifully portrayed by Hamiduzzaman Khan in four of his paintings.             

For this exhibition, Khan has done a number of faces in watercolours. The faces are not identical and each has a unique expression. The expressions denote bliss, gloom and repulsion. His overall composition is styled with curves, twisting lines and tonal gradations.

The artworks reflect the artist's inner feelings, real life experiences, nostalgic memories and thoughts. They bring together his dynamism in paintings and sculpture alike.

Khan is an energetic and ceaseless creative personality. He finds peace in his work,whether sculpture, painting or drawing. But his major recognition as a sculptor came in the early '80s when he was commissioned by the Bangladesh Government to decorate the fountain at the front entrance of the Bangabhaban with a sculpture. Most of his sculptures are either stylised figurative (both male and female shapes) or abstract forms, in painted steel, concrete cement, bronze and other metals.

Though Khan is an urban artist, he prefers to spend his time away from the city's chaos. He frequently visits rural areas, and that is why his work (particularly watercolour) has highlighted the visual serenity of rural landscapes. Solitude and serenity are vital aspects of his works. Lighting is a prominent feature in  his art and the artist generally prefers glowing light and mystifying settings.

Khan's quiet and intensely contemplative landscape contains a symbolism that alludes to peace and hope in nature.