SEEKING ONE'S INNER SELF
Among the recognisable figures in “Searching Myself”, Monjur Rashid's first solo at Alliance Francaise de Dhaka (AFD) Gallery, is a seated girl with a “teep”, and a collared dress. The background is grey so that the figure stands out. A boy is seen with mixed up colours to represent mixed up and merged ideas. This shows how the painter is trying to come to realities but fails to do so. Only the face is apparent as the body is left bare. The background is red and grey. None of the faces are totally realistic.
“There is not a 100 per cent presentation of facts. Nothing is totally explained,” says the artist. “Sometimes, the orange faces are brown in parts and sometimes are lit up and appear pink and yellow. The faces are a melange of colours. There are bars of colours behind,” says the artist. “Since we think of many things, there is the multiplication sign in the backdrop. At times we try to try to memorise phone numbers, At times we try to participate in number games. That is why the numerals are there. The writings are in English, Bangla and French etc. English and the Bangla we know. French and German are to help us get better jobs etc. as these languages are in demand too. We think of different things and so there is a mixture of languages. Sometimes the mistakes take place due to our callousness and sometimes we do the evil knowingly, using money for it. Man has lost his human qualities and turned into a beast.” says the artist.
What the artist depicts are faces he knows and the faces one comes across on the road. The bars of colours behind him such as blue and red set him off. There is an attempt at discovering a young woman. We see a part of her face which is coloured in different shades. Her hair and dress, including her “orna” are also drenched in colour. The eyes, face and the moustache of the other personality are dark .The attractive young woman has blue lips ,with a bit of her face clear, appealing and stands out in the mixture of colours. The artist has heaped the backdrop with colours bet nevertheless the face is always apparent, although portrayed only partly.
The artist is influenced by the faces of Henry Moore. The nose and eyes of some of his pieces are like the sculpted work of Moore. He applies his colours the way he knows best, in his own manner. The individuals are seeking themselves and the artist is seeking himself too.
Like people who journey through life, some wearing earrings while some carry pistols, are seen here. The artist uses acrylic, charcoal and other mixed media to obtain his effect. He has a care for seeing minutely while he examines a situation.
Monjur, though young, is ambitious and presents his forms with care and sensitivity. He has done these paintings in four years. In one of his picture, he brings in five bottles, a crescent moon, and a girl as that is life around him. In order to highlight his figures he has played with light and shadow. There is the pulsating rhythm of life in his work.
Inaugurating the function was Nasiruddin Yousuff. He said man sees through lines and colours. Acting, painting and dancing began by seeing. Man has progressed much since he did cave art. Also present there, Manzurur Rahman, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Cultural Affairs, said the artist expresses his joie de vivre with his paints through which he has
attempted to capture his time.
The exhibition runs till November 3.
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