The New Nation - Internet Edition

Sheikh Arif Bulbon

"Shako, an organisation of women artists, in now four years old. We have been making steady progress in our activities all this while. At the very inception we had pledged to foster contacts among artists, and by now we have succeeded in establishing an extensive network. Therefore, Shako encourages its members to pursue their artistic endeavour with steadfastness. Shako has brought a new dynamism to its other organizational activities. It has been proactive in promoting discussions, meetings and personal contacts among artists, and thereby it has facilitated healthy exchange of ides," Nasreen Begum, Secretary of Shako, Women Artists Association of Bangladesh, and Associate Professor of Oriental Art of Fine Arts Institute of Dhaka University, said this at its exhibition titled 'Shades of Life' held at Bengal Gallery of Fine Arts in the capital.

The exhibition was inaugurated on October 17 which was inaugurated by Geetiara Safiya Choudhury, Industries, Jute and Textiles and Women and Children Affairs Adviser. Ingebjorg Stofring, Ambassador of Norway, Imran Rahman, Managing Director of BRAC Bank Ltd, Subir Chowdhury, Director of Bengal Gallery, among others, were present on the occasion. The exhibition was sponsored by BRAC Bank Ltd.

At every exhibition organised by Shako a few artists other than its members are invited to participate. They may include trainees as well as veterans, foreign artists and physically challenged Bangladeshi artists. This practice has added diversity to the events and greatly enriched them by facilitating the exchange of ides between members and invited artists. This year three invited artists - Rokeya Sultana, Sarkar Naheed Niazi Nipu and Denise Hudson - are participating in the exhibition.

Nasreen Begum said, "Our modest exhibitions always have a serious purpose behind them. The bulk of the money realised from the sale of artworks is donated to a charitable organisation or a needy individual. It always gives us great pleasure to be able to use art to contribute a little towards social welfare. This year's exhibition is in support of the 'Apon Drug Rehabilitation Centre,' which has been trying to help drug-abusers get a new lease of life. The proposal for this show came from Sayeda Sarwat Abed."

In the exhibition the participants are Fareha Zeba, Farida Zaman, Farzana Islam Milky, Kanak Chanpa Chakma, Kuhu, Naima Haque, Nasreen Begum, Rebeka Sultana Moly, Rokeya Sultana, Sarkar Nahid Niazi Nipu, Sulekha Chaudhury and Denise Hudson.

In the 'Autumn,' acrylic on canvas by Farida Zaman was undoubtedly an excellent painting. She superbly presented water lilies dancing in the water. The lilies were buttercup yellow with twirling roots and they were juxtaposed with the pitch-black river below and the natural background of trees with delicate dots, done in emerald green and black.

In the 'Girl with a melon' by Rokeya Sultana in shades of brown, grey, flamingo pink presented the simple image of a woman with bobbed hair, biting into a fruit. Balanced images of more watermelon form the setting for the portrait.

The Chittagong Hill Tracts life had been defined with the brilliance by Kanak Chanpa Chakma. Heavy jewellery at the neck, ears, wrists and hair, plus a yellow flower deck the young woman in 'Nilmai Nirongona,' an acrylic on canvas. The cobalt blue sky and 'Snowy River' were included in the portrait too.

The pristine acrylic on canvas, 'Busy Path' by Nasreen Begum, brought in nature and man with superb subtlety and vivid imagination. Lush green meadow was balanced with narrow white flowing streams and more dotted meadows that were balanced in a parallel manner. Miniscule figures of rural people, going about their everyday life, were placed above the depiction of nature.

Kuhu, who excels in portrait in crayon, and who delighted the local and overseas viewers with her dynamic pictures has an untitled charcoal on paper. Here one found that a woman in a white sari with a faded red border, with simple black and white bangles on the wrists and a flowing mane of jet-black hair. The doe like eyes and pouting lips speak of anger and resentment.

In Fareha Zeba's work titled 'Nature,' acrylic on ply-board, one found two meditative images of a couple appearing to pray in silence and despair. The figures were done in royal blue of different shades. Shady trees, riverside bushes and the sky, the main subject being nature, were brought in with the powerful strokes.

The untitled mixed media by Naima Haque had a small owl suspended on what appears to be a rock or the head of a man. The work was in stripes, lines and scratches to lend interest in the texture work. Framing the figures was the sky in variations of gentle blue and white. Dots, doodles and more scratches were included in the backdrop.

The 'Unknown love,' acrylic on canvas by Rebeka Sultana Moly presented flexible young women in printed salwar-kameez and almost transparent 'dupatta.' The angular faces remind one of portraits was done by the Italian Renaissance masters. The sparkling colours on the clothes were offset by more flamboyant reds and yellows of the background.

The exhibition will end on October 26.