The Other Voice

(Clockwise) War and woman by Fareha Zeba, Gracious Time by Ferdousi Priyobhashini, Story of bricks by Nazlee Laila Mansur, Father and Daughter resting by Kuhu

At the exhibition we had Fareha Zeba's presentation of a hapless woman surrounded by tiny images of running soldiers. War and women was in streaks of grays, blues and ochre. In front was a clown playing with balls, a contrast against the images of fear and suspense. A teacher at Scholastica, Zeba had her MFA from the Institute of Fine Arts, Dhaka University. Kanak Chanpa Chakma's works were of ethnic figures. One of them was blowing a traditional horn and was bedecked in traditional heavy silver jewellery to match the red and black blouse and lungi. The background was awash with vermilion. Kanak, who has studied at the Institute of Fine Arts, is a Fellow of the Penn State University ,USA.

Rokeya Sultana's Untitled brought in a gorgeous bird in blue seen against a background of shades of green. The land and water was included in strokes of yellow and lime. This was done in tempera. Rokeya has done her MFA from Visva Bharati University, Shantiniketan. Farida Zaman in her Fisher woman in the morning played up the role of the poor working women and presented the theme in an irresistible combination of bright oranges and yellow. Boats, moon, flowers with long stems and 100 red dots added to the fairy tale-like ambience.

Kuhu's Father and daughter resting was a charcoal pasting drawing. This work, done in a few fine strokes, depicted a dark, sultry woman with long hair resting and waiting for her father. Kuhu's realistic work is always welcome after the abstract and semi abstract work of her counterparts. Kuhu has done her MFA from the Institute of Fine Arts, Dhaka University. Laila Sharmeen, also a freelance artist like Kuhu, had a presentation of her idyllic vision with boats, birds, houses and flowers scattered on blacks of images in Nature-1.

Nazlee Laila Mansur had her Story of bricks in mixed media. In this she depicted a woman carrying bricks to build houses , which she depicted as eventually collapsing and bringing death and destruction.The pain and suffering etched on the face of the female labourer is moving indeed. Nazlee has an MFA from Chittagong University.

Naima Haque 's mixed media brought in a simple delineation of a safety pin and a clip in her Composition. This was in shades of purple, mauve and yellow. Naima has an MS from the University of Baroda. Atia Islam Anne's surrealistic composition, Present situation is a play on women's position in contemporary society. Anne has an MFA from the Institute of Fine Arts, DU.

Women artists should bond together and have such fine displays more often.