Lipi's exhilarating installation

The artist amidst her works

In the exposition gallery hang long, white ropes that end in tinkling bells that, one might find in anklets or 'jhumars'; while in front are TV footages based on overseas reports. On one end of the gallery is the gray, black and white presentation of stiff lipped members of a high level conference. In the backdrop is the voice of a new-born baby along with the images of the artist's lips and ears. The child birth cries are penetrating and symbolise the pain of modern existence, as Lipi explains. The installation is a definite departure from set ideas, such as 'Art for art's sake', and stirs up feelings and senses, if one can ferret into this post-modern creation. The exhibit speaks of frustration, discontentment and alienation.

What one saw was brave and bold but was the message unique? Perhaps, in the context of the sedate and self-satisfied humdrum life of the city -- where rhythmic colour compositions in galleries maybe the call of the day. This is even though the average sensibility of all creative people have been rocked asunder in the last one decade.

With her association with the local and foreign organisations like 'Britto', 'Khoj' and 'Triangle', based in Dhaka, India and UK, Lipi has had ample opportunity, backing and inspiration to venture into something so new and fresh. Her gypsy life with her father, a railway officer, who was posted in different local districts, and her association with the adventurous Mahbubur Rahman, her husband, has given her confidence to push ahead of her seniors. Confident of her controversial works and feats, Lipi has also had the support of her teachers like Shishir Bhattacharjee, and some of her fellow artists, like young Piplu, who also believe in treading unimagined paths of fine arts. Other senior artists, like Bulbon Osman, the well-known art history teacher, nod to the nouveau outlook and approach. The expatriates in the city and other members of the city intelligentsia, also give their silent consent to the continuation of stirring up our discontentment and angst. With the large arena of the Alliance Francaise gallery -- and days in preparation, while another exhibit of illustration has been shelved into a corridor -- Lipi is naturally heady with success. The Grand Prize winner of the Asian Biennale, 2004, steps ahead without hesitation or a backward glance.

Lipi, who has attended over a dozen workshops, has experiences of overseas residences in Ireland, Germany, Finland, Denmark and Myanmar. She is also the coordinator of 'Britto' art trust.