Courage in adversity

Chief guest Michael Popinchalk views Anisur Rahman's solo art exhibition after the inauguration

Rahman's 60 paintings are on display at the Art & Soul Gallery till November 30. The exhibition was inaugurated by Michael Popinchalk, Superintendent of American International School, Dhaka on November 18. Enter the gallery and one's attention is arrested by Shelter, a semi-abstract work in acrylic. With hues of green, black, red, yellow and green, this work depicts a bird in search of shelter.

Then there's the semi-abstract Moving, also in acrylic, which zeroes in on the figure of a woman in motion. The predominant colours are red, turquoise, black, blue and white. The grace of the woman is a noticeable feature of the painting.

Rahman's life is a saga of courage and perseverance in the face of great adversity. Rahman managed to overcome all odds when he painstakingly learnt to paint with his left hand instead of the right, which was paralysed.

"I believe in Romanticism," says the artist, pointing out that "A subject has to attract me from within. I would also say that I get inspired by reality." Rahman puts in a six-hour day when he paints at his home in Azimpur. At present he is a freelance artist, having worked for the Department of Films and Publication, Ministry of Information, Bangladesh, for 30 years as an illustrator and layout- expert. He has held solo exhibitions in Dhaka and Paris and taken part in several group exhibitions in Dhaka.

Rahman, a graduate of fine arts from the Institute of Fine Arts, Dhaka University, says he is a great admirer of the works of Mohammad Kibria and Rafiqun Nabi. His advice for young artists, " I want the younger generation of artists to paint works with aesthetic appeal and learn to love their fellow beings."

That's a tough message to follow in this Kalyug (an era of chaos and destruction in Hindu mythology). But empathy for one another can certainly go a long way in righting the balance.