The New Nation - Internet Edition

Sheikh Arif Bulbon

"In a career spanning nearly thirty years, Alak Roy has only four solo exhibitions, a fact that speaks of his reluctance to exhibit without extensively covering the artistic and philosophical grounds on which his work would stand and fully articulate his intended meaning. That meaning often has to do with the way we relate to each other, to time and history, and to nature. As a thinker artist, Alak's challenge lies in making eloquent our daily discourses with nature, which are increasingly becoming fragmented and discontinuous, as technological and industrial interventions degrade the environment, destroy the fine balance among the various life forms and threaten to turn the world into a wasteland," said eminent art critic Syed Manzoorul Islam about art works of sculptor Alak Roy.

A fifteen-day long sculpture exhibition of artist Alak Roy was inaugurated at Bengal Gallery of Fine Arts on January 5. Chairman of the University Grants Commission (UGC) Prof Nazrul Islam was present as chief guest, while architect Shamsul Wares, Subir Chowdhury, Director of the gallery, among others, were present on the occasion. There are 50 art works of Alak Roy took place in the exhibition. The exhibition was jointly organised by Bengal Gallery of Fine Arts and British Council, while AB Bank Ltd sponsored the exhibition.

From the first solo exhibition of Alak Roy in the early 80's, which was titled 'The Cry of Earth.' Alak has tried to take his art to the rich life that enervates the earth in search of enduring solutions to contemporary social and political problems. In his latest exhibition, Ecology of Mind, which is an extension of the 2007 solo exhibition in the DC Hill Park in Chittagong titled 'Steps to Ecology of Mind,' Alak explores the relationship between man and nature which, in our time, has turned antagonistic. The exhibition puts together some large sized sculpture, which both exploit potentials of the medium and adequately express his philosophical concerns.

If we look for the distinguishing marks of Alak Roy's sculptures, the list won't be too long, but each will certainly stand for its uniqueness. Alak's early terracotta work shows both his predilection for installation-like arrangements and his sharp eye for details. His site specific sculptures reveal an intimate understanding of what the Chinese call 'Feng Shui' or the spirit of the place and instead of working solely on the outside of a sculpted object, he often starts with its interior spaces, slowly reaching outwards. His necessarily invites the viewer's gaze both to the exterior and interior of an art object. Thus eliminating restrictions of mass, volume and dimensionality.

About Alak's works Syed Manzoorul Islam said, "Alak's first exhibition involved some finely done terracotta works, which had a feel of the earth - its rawness, its strength as well as its softness, which the viewers were invited to celebrate. The second exhibition concentrated on a stylistic variation. Alak burnt his pieces black to show their power to change, mutate and assume a richer and stronger existence. Gradually he extended the dimensions of his work, until they became much larger than life. His intention was now epical, as he began to see nature as a force that can come to our rescue and make our lives meaningful."

Alak said, "At present in my works, the world is seen to possess eyes and ears, which is an anthropomorphic projection of sorts. But a muted spirituality also accommodates there. The world, which for translates as nature, also has an inner eye with which it can clearly see the shape of things to come. If the spread of technology-driven, engineering based urban civilisation confines nature only to reserved forests and national parks, lying waste all its other vestiges, then humanity will have to pay a huge price. I, however, believe in the power of nature to protect itself. It is after all a living entity and has been there longer than the Homo sapiens."

'Ecology of Mind' takes his thoughts about nature a step forward. Here he not only highlights the fractured state of our existence which can heal once we restore our connection with nature, but also makes us think of our role in the entire process of alienation that is taking us away from our roots.

Alak asks his viewers to interiorise the whole spectacle of nature's endowing man's life with gifts of sights and sounds. He himself feels the beauty and bounty of nature and the balance that holds together the elemental nexus inside his head. The exhibition tells us in so many words that nature has given us a wonderful legacy, which we must protect with all the strength we are capable of. The exhibition will end on January 19.