Reeshe transferred from Charukala to Indiana State University in 1989. To leave Bangladesh for Terrehaute seemed a natural progression. Following a couple of semesters funded by driving a cab, he moved on to the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts, the America's first art school. A place at Cornell had to be rejected due to lack of funds, but this did little to deter Reeshe, who promptly moved to New York. "Modern art happened in New York after the Second World War; it was the perfect place for an artist.

" Here, in the heart of arty Williamsburg, Brooklyn, he set up a shop.

In 1993 Reeshe had his first solo exhibition at the Tomkins Square Gallery in East Village. Reviews appeared in New York based Bangladeshi media and local newspapers like the Village Voice. It was at this time that he coined Hyper Plastic Reality, referring to the sometimes-jaded view of life in the City.

Group shows followed for a few years thereafter; his paintings were taken to Paris by an American art dealer. Reeshe's quiet confidence in his own work enabled him to feel comfortable in participating in such shows. Living in New York was easy, as Reeshe did not feel the culture to be alien. "Art transcends all barriers; it was not hard to find commonalities," he explains. Working on 86th Street on the Upper East Side, selling paintings to locals, Reeshe was once arrested for "free expression" without a permit, but was quickly released.

Twelve years to get into America, in particular NYC, of which the last two were spent in an attempt to detach himself. The events following the September 11 attacks hastened his departure and Reeshe returned to Dhaka in February 2002.

While there was no culture shock moving West, Reeshe's homecoming was harsh. It was a while before he could adjust to his new environment. Reeshe felt that his presence changed society in some small way; the "ripple effect" that causes a person to affect the next and so on.

The last five years have been a spiritual homecoming in more ways than one and his epiphany of finding his soul outweighs the suffering borne en route. His maxim is "technique can be learnt from an art institute, but art is really learnt from society. His art is a visual diary trying to understand life, searching for a "home within home." The diary chronicles this journey and marks Reehse's emotional passages. His homecoming Nirvana has been "more than worth it"; at last he is at harmony with himself and the world.

A first solo exhibition entitled "Beholding Reality" was held earlier this year at the Dots Contemporary Arts Centre in Dhaka. "When lovingly held, even mundane existence becomes an eternity; when you accept love, the moment becomes eternity", believes Reeshe.

Going to the US was an integral part of Reeshe's journey; the artist in him was born in New York. He feels obligated to the US and would welcome an opportunity to pay homage to the country, to paint once more on the streets of New York.