Gentle Grass: Captivating simplicity and elegance through sculptures

S M Saha Anisuzzaman Faroque's first solo sculpture and painting exhibition, "Gentle Grass" was inaugurated at La Galerie, Alliance Francaise de Dhaka on August 19.

The event was graced by the presence of eminent sculptor Prof Hamiduzzaman Khan, Prof Lala Rukh Selim, Department of Sculpture, Faculty of Fine Art, University of Dhaka, and Prof Manosh Chowdhury, Department of Anthropology, Faculty of Social Science, Jahangirnagar University as special guests.

Born in Moheshkhali, Cox's Bazar, Anisuzzaman Faroque is an emerging artist who completed his bachelors and masters in fine arts, specialising in sculptures.

Prof Selim showcased his appreciation for the artiste in his speech, during the inaugural ceremony. "Anisuzzaman's work oscillates rhythmically in water and air. The flawless balance of lines and forms, and the interaction between nature's forces and organic structures shown in Faroque's work in a pulsatile manner has appealed to me," he said in his speech at the event.

The metal sculptures with diverse size and shapes are neatly organised in the gallery. According to Faroque, his artworks are shards of his life, accumulated over the last 12 years. Harmoniously merging the simplicity of life with nature, crafting spontaneous pieces of art is what he lives for. 

The first piece that will grab the attention of gallery visitors is a tiny iron sculpture, which the artist has named "Grass Flower I and II". Taking his inspiration from fragile grass flowers, the artist decided to craft them with iron, making them strong in their being.  

Next in line is "A Gentle Iron Grass"—a delicate blade of grass complemented with shafts of iron— protecting the brittle piece with a ferrous armoury.

"Hanging Moon I" is the tallest sculpture in the middle of the gallery, inspired from the view of a tower that splits the moon in half. "Hanging Moon II", a little chime-like sculpture, which resembles the visual of a butterfly with a creeper carrying the moon, is also worth a pause when one decides to walk past it. Both of these charming pieces are composed of Bronze and Iron.

The most intriguing element of Faroque's sculptures is the structural stability he has achieved through the slightest coverage on flat surfaces. The enormous "Underwater Iron Plant" stands strong on the ground when the upper part is buoyant and flexible like actual aquatic plants.

With ethereal form and bronze-made seductive surfaces "Special Child I & II" are pieces inspired from his favourite relatives. "Very Complicated Chair" resembles a tiny sitting space with a flower-petal backrest, as if it were made for a fairy.

The series "Flying Iron Wings" features three dynamic iron compositions of straight and curved lines with curve-edged triangles. "Nocturnal Vast Swamps" in bronze displays a marvellous pair of flowers standing upright magically, on one leg each, without any external support.

The exhibit "Orchid Flower in Bird's Beak" comes from the artist's precious orchids, and his memory of heron birds in his village.

The paintings displayed at the exhibition are abstractions with charcoal on paper, depicting Faroque's thought process. In simpler terms, all of his works are the epitome of simplicity, elegance, and sensitivity.

The exhibition is open for all till August 30. All the exhibits on display are up for sale.