The New Nation - Internet Edition

Sheikh Arif Bulbon

Even before Mohammad Iqbal had gone to Japan in 1999 on a Monobusho Scholarship awarded by the government of that country, this gifted graduate of the Institute of Fine Arts of Dhaka University had been awarded the best young artist award on two occasions in 1994 and 1998 and had atracted the atention of people interested in the arts by being honoured with a prize in the National Art Exhibition. In Japan, he pursued single-mindedly the goal of making himself fit to perform at an even higher level. As a consequence, he was able to win less than five prizes for his artwork exhibited at exhibits at Kurami City and Bridgestone Art Museums.

"No longer are Iqbal's canvases dominated by figures as was the case before he had left for Japan. His experience of life in that country has led him to abandon them. The botom part of his canvas is often left vacant Motifs take up only a small part Because of destruction on a massive scale in the world these motifs have been reduced, have become slighter, vaguer, and almost invisible or made symbolic. It characteristic of Iqbal to always surpass himself," eminent art critic Syed Azizul Huq said these about Mohammad Iqbal at his solo painting exhibition titled 'Distant Skies' at Bengal Gallery of Fine Arts in the capital.

The exhibition was sponsored by Winners Creation Ltd and was inaugurated on September 4.

Masayuki Inoue, Ambassador of Japan, was present as chief guest at the inaugural session of the exhibition, while renowned artist Rafiqun Nabi and Syed Durjoy Rahman Joy, Managing Director of Winners Creation Ltd, were also present as special guests on the occasion.

There are 41 art works of Mohammad Iqbal in the exhibition.

Earlier, a press conference was held in this regard on September 3. Subir Chowdhury, Director of the Bengal Gallery of Fine Arts, Syed Durjoy Rahman Joy, Managing Director of Winners Creation Ltd, Sarwar Zahan of the gallery, artist himself, among others, were present in the press conference.

Syed Azizul Huq said, "To make Iqbal's canvas even richer through diligence and hard work is one consequence of his stay in Japan. It should be mentioned here that he has restricted himself to the medium of oil although he has worked with different sizes of canvases. To prepare the surface of his canvas he uses a layer of oil paints and then gives it completed before the paint can dry. To keep the total effect a balanced one the artist must be in total control and completely alert all through this process. In other words, Iqbal has perfected his own distinctive way of achieving texture, oil, water, gum and a kind of powder is missed together and then formed in to a paste which is then used completely new way. As a result, his paintings have a three-dimensional feeling. They acquire a completely new dimension. Iqbal is also very ingenious in his use of the brush in painting with oil to create lines that are delicate. It is by no means easy to create such fine lines. Exposure to Japanese calligraphy has enabled him to create such fine lines and use such deft strokes. All of these innovations testify to his dedication and ingenuity."

Iqbal had completed his MFA from Department of Drawing and Painting of Fine Arts Institute of Dhaka University in 1989. He completed his diploma in oil painting from Post Graduate Research Institute Aichi University of Education In Japan in 2001. He completed his Master of Education in Fine Arts in Oil Painting from Aichi University of Education of Japan in 2003. He obtained PhD in Fine Arts in Oil Painting from Hiroshima City University in Japan in 2006 and he also took part in research course on oil painting from Tokyo National University of Fine Arts and Music in Japan in 2007.

Mohammad Iqbal is now working with the issue on civilisation and environmental disaster. He said, "Environment is being polluted across the world. As a result, we cannot give anything to our next generation. This thing hurt me always. I always believe we should take something for our future generation. These issues always come in my works. I like children's expression especially eyes of human being atract me. I think anybody can realise by observing something to someone's eyes."

There is circular form of expression, which is found in the works of Iqbal. This circular form represents the expression of polluted nature of the world. He hopes one day people of the world will find peace. He always tries to express his thoughts by a process in his works.

But earlier, he passed his life as a devotee. Life of devotees of Japan atracted him so much. He got many things from their devotion and clam atention of prayers. Now his total philosophy is based on environmental issues. He wants to express this in his art works. So this exhibition will give a new Iqbal to the viewers.

The exhibition will end on September 18. Gallery remains open from 12:00 noon to 8:00pm everyday.