A New Zealander enlivens the art scene
She finds plenty of inspiration in Dhaka the busy markets, the New Year celebrations in Ramna Park and the architecture of old Dhaka. 'Most of all I enjoy painting the river life and the people who live and work on the river front.'
The second day after arriving in Dhaka a year ago, she and her husband Graham (an adviser with the European Commission), went down to the old city and river. She was fascinated by the sheer flow of traffic on the river. She recalls that the subjects could range from boats, people selling water melons or ferrying passengers across the river to an immaculately dressed lady with a baby.
For all latest news, follow The Daily Star's Google News channel. Her work often begins with taking photographs of her subjects. In her words,' I enjoy the light on the river. The first thing in the morning or late afternoon is the best time for me to take some photographs, capturing the light and shadows on a building and water.' She has toyed with the idea of setting up an easel near the river but she believes, as a foreigner, that she would be surrounded by curious onlookers.
She is also the illustrator of two children's books: Balinese Children's Favourite Stories (published in 2001) and A Club of Small Men (2002). 'It wasn't child's play,' says Trina with a laugh. Many of characters, she says, are derived from her doodles, which she says she does in traffic jams or while travelling.
A diploma holder in graphic design from New Zealand, Trina has painted her way around the world. Among the places that she has been with her husband are: Zimbabwe, Indonesia, Borneo and Papua New Guinea. Her preferred medium is watercolour, which she says, 'captured my imagination.' She is also a member of the British Watercolour Society. Why watercolour? 'I am looking for a depth of colour as well as a translucence which only watercolour can give me. I need the darkness and also the light,' she maintains.
Her last base was Jakarta. 'In Indonesia, I was fascinated by the Chinese temples and the seascapes.' Some of her works depict burning incense in the temples. 'What interests me is the way light falls on incense and smoke,' she says. Her works have been exhibited and are in private collections in the UK, Netherlands, USA, New Zealand, China, Malaysia and Zimbabwe.
At the moment she is readying for a joint exhibition in Dhaka in February. She does solos every 18 monthsit could be anywhere. She greatly admires the artistic talent of Bangladesh and speaks highly of the calibre of artists such as Rokeya, Kuhu, Jamal, Kanak Chanpa Chakma and Mithu. Going by Trina's works, the feeling seems mutual.