The New Nation - Internet Edition

Sheikh Arif Bulbon

In June 2008, the artist Russell invited his artist friends to take part in an art camp. The objective was to translate the problem of safeguarding of the culture and environment in Bangladesh into painting. The fast modernisation of the country transforms the landscape by sometimes eradicating the local culture or tradition. The artists thus wanted, with their brushes, to explore their dissensions with this situation but also to show, as Bangladesh remains a country recognised for its natural beauties. This was the background history of a successful art camp where 14 artists of different departments of the Institute of Fine Arts of Dhaka University attended. A group exhibition titled 'Searching Our Roots' from the output of the works from the art camp was held at the La Galerie of the Alliance Francaise in the city recently.

The exhibition was a sequel of the art camp. The talented artists were absorbed in nature and were greatly moved.

The main vision of the art camp was to highlight the nature, culture and environment of Bangladesh in paintings. This outdoor camp was a platform for them to exchange their views and concepts to other artists. The exhibition was inaugurated by Prof Qayyum Chowdhury as chief guest, while Prof Hamiduzzaman Khan was present as special guest on the occasion.

The participating artists were Prof Hamiduzzaman Khan, Ivy Zaman, Md Rashed Kamal Russell, Rania Alam, Md Farhad Ali Khan, Masuma Islam Khan Kochy, Md Khairul Alam, Tandra Mukherjee, Nasreen Sharker Tuntun, Sanjid Mahmud, Sharmeen Ahmed Shormee, Md Azizul Haque, Mustakina Tarin and Saifur Rahman.

There is nothing new to describe the works of Prof Hamiduzzaman Khan. He is celebrated for his distinguished work and thought-provoking themes. His dedication to art is praiseworthy. He has involved himself with the contemporary art movement in the work, which reflection was found in his works. This similarity was also found in the works of sculptor Ivy Zaman. Rashed Kamal Russell has internalised the inner beauty of nature in most of his works in the exhibition. A miscellaneous aspect of rural life was main attraction of his work. His semi-abstract works of rural landscapes and the transparent technique were found hugely in his works. His strokes were polished and different. Sometimes those were almost prototype.

In works of Rania Ala, she tried to express her feelings through creative compositions and colours. Canvas was a field of celebration of her success and there was an individual vision of her each work. She was trying to create her own language with colour and forms on the canvases.

Art work of Mustakina Tarin expressed the aesthetic beauty of a village. By means of her sweeping brush strokes and warm colours, the canvas was transformed. Her work was basically a depiction of a landscape with rural nature viewed through trees, birds and a dense forest. Though the subject was general as subject matter, she made their movements complicated through watercolour.

In work of Sharmeen Shormee, she tried to paint something natural expression, which were portrayed with watercolour. Therefore, colourful image of natural beauty were found in her work.

In Nasreen Tuntun's work, she tried to create the historic expression with watercolour so swiftly. As a result, this may be considered that the activities of the art camp had very few time, she made it drastically with her emotional expressions. Tonu's search for beauty and truth has influenced her to hold up in her images a vibrant blithe picture of splendour. She tries to present synchronisation of colours in her works with little pretension. She has used colours with subdued splendour for giving a distinct message through her works.

Though the exhibition was full of various artists of different ages, but this initiative was very successful as in one hand there was an opportunity to exchange their views and opinions about their art works, on the other hand this type effort would help them in the long run for their career development.