The New Nation - Internet Edition

Sheikh Arif Bulbon

Dhaka Art Circle, formed in 1993, is a well-known group of artists of the country. Since then they have organised regular exhibitions, workshops and seminars at least once a year. The group is led by veteran artists like Samarjit Roy Chowdhury and Abu Taher and runs on the basis of cooperation among younger and older artists. This is an exceptional group in the sense that the exhibitions are organised with a mission - to provide philanthropic service to the people, society and culture as a whole. The income generated from the paintings is generally spent for humanitarian causes. As a example, members of the Dhaka Art Circle raised their hands to help the flood and SIRD affected people.

Dhaka Art Centre organised a group exhibition titled 'A Pageant of Forms and Figures' at the Bengal Gallery of Fine Arts in the capital recently.

The participant artists were - Samarjit Roy Chowdhury, Abu Taher, Mohammad Mohsin, Syed Enayet Hossain, Anwarul Huq, Rejaul Karim, Biren Shome, Matlub Ali, Swapan Chowdhury, Abdus Shakoor, Chandra Shekhar Dey and Rafi Haque.

Artists Samarjit Roy Chowdhury, President of Dhaka Art Circle, said, "Dhaka Art Circle represents a small group of painters with similar sensibilities based in Dhaka. The Centre is now 15 years old. It is pleasantly surprising that the group has stayed together and worked over this period of time." After establishment of the Centre, has lost two talented painters and devoted members - artists Golam Sarwar and Shamsul Islam Nizami. Aesthetic contributions of the new members have provided Dhaka Art Circle with new dimensions till now.

Artist Samarjit Roy Chowdhury is country's one of the renowned artists who has been working since middle of 1950. He is very fond of experimenting and trying out new forms and techniques. Art is his passion, patriotism and respect for nature in his art is admirable.

Artist Abu Taher has been a prolific painter and always tries to carry an individual characteristic in his works. His work reflects a pensive and thinking mind, one that searches for the right relation between figures, spaces and compositions. The colours of his canvas give us a romantic and imposing view. A number of works reveal the thoughtful and meditative mood of Bengali women. After viewing his works, one can realise the beauty of simplicity of nature.

Artist Matlub Ali is simultaneously an artist, a musician, a critic and a writer. He has shown outstanding evidence in both creativity and skill in each branch. His sincerity, dedication and depth of knowledge have helped him to reach his present position. He claims to be introverted. It has a reflection in his works.

Artist Mohammad Mohsin is always searching in his passages through the vast diverse ocean of nature to enrich his works. His reflected the matter in his artworks.

In works of Abdus shakoor, folk ballads of Mymensingh - the famous love story of 'Mahua' and 'Malua' - are the main concept. He depicted stories from that with the elements and motifs like 'Nakshi kanthar math' and 'Gazir pat.' He tried to focus on the expression of female faces, specially the eyes.

He has used motifs such as 'Alpana' patterns and various types of animals found in our country. He has also used some geometrical shapes like rectangles, straight lines and circular forms.