Nothing succeeds like success

The Dream Moon, mixed media.

Nazir said, "I've sent in my works and they've received them last month." Nazir has had numerous awards earlier, as two at the Japanese Triennales along with other certificates of merit from Settsu City Art Exhibitions as well as Rotary Club, Japan Award, one from Poland a the Miniature Art Exhibit (diploma certificate, this year), National awards in Bangladesh etc. Nazir has, in all, 11 national and international awards to his credit, including the Grand Prize (Bengal Foundation) at the 14th National Art Exhibition, Shilpakala Academy in 2001. He has had nine major solo exhibits, while he has participated in over 55 group displays at home and overseas, as in Japan, China, India, Bhopal, the Middle East and Europe.

Asked to say something about his style, Nazir says, "I don't confine myself to one style or theme. My prints change with the varying concepts. I change according to the feelings, inspirations and drives within me. My feelings and emotions maybe political or non-political, social or economic. I dwell on experiences like dreams, fears, nostalgia, hopes, aspiration and even record or history as the Liberation War incidents like the genocide and mass rampage that began on March 25, 1971.

"When I think of a bright future of think of my happy childhood or even my contented family life with my wife and two daughters, my colours and composition are naturally idyllic and buoyant," says Nazir. "The vibration of the moon can involve both dreams or the chaotic socio-political upheavals. The same image may involve both happy and melancholic elements or be seeped in a single theme, according to my mood. I feel stirrings around me at times, like earth tremours, and these are recorded in my texture work and use of hues as well as the images," he continues.

Most often, Nazir tends to be semi-abstract and impressionistic. Our artists have always maintained that they take their inspirations and images from incidents and nature around and within them. "I am not pessimistic," Nazir adds, "I believe that out of the new comes something afresh, even after major wars and repression the world-over. True, there is a lot of pain and suffering in the process of metamorphosis but what results from human and natural struggle should be recorded and given credit to."

Nazir, who has worked on series such as "Warfiles" and "Moon". Meanwhile, his most recent works -- seen at "Shilpangan" -- consist of presenting of human anatomy and physiology, which, incidentally happens to be the latest overseas and local trend in fine arts. In these works, Nazir explains, "I've tried to capture the inward working of the human self. We could have had x-ray eyes, for instance, to comprehend his emotional pain or depressions due to overwhelming financial burdens. I believe, also, that the warfare overseas is affecting Bangladesh too. We, in our homes, are also gripped in a state of frenzy. It is only if we can analyze the internal working of each individual that we can feel the pulse of the nations."

Asked if he ever overwhelmed by the fact that he was Safiuddin Ahmed's son, and if he felt that he was overshadowed by his father's image, Nazir says, "This slightly embarrassing situation does arise sometimes, but I believe that I've carried out my own endeavours to the bast of my ability in my own individual way. I don't deny my heritage but I wish to be known for myself."

Nazir, with his MFA from the Fine Arts Institute, DU, has studied under the Japanese print-makers Hiroshi Maruyama and Hisashi Kurachi; and also with a third print-maker, Richard Hards of USA.