Revisiting art by the masters

Bangladesh can definitely take pride in fine art, thanks to the single-handed efforts of the founding father of our art movement, Shilpacharya Zainul Abedin. The pioneering artist with his contemporary masters, Patua Quamrul Hassan, Shilpaguru Safiuddin Ahmed and others, established Dhaka Art College (Now Faculty of Fine Art, University of Dhaka) in 1948 to initiate formal art education in this part of the world. The legacy of our art further achieved excellence with abstractionist guru Mohammad Kibria along with abstract-modernist Aminul Islam and other towering figures like Abdur Razzaque and Rashid Chowdhury. These seven artists are no more, but they are immortalised with their unique creations that continue to inspire us.

Murtaja Baseer, Samarjit Roy Chowdhury, Rafiqun Nabi and Monirul Islam are contemporary masters and living legends of art in the Bangladeshi context. After a long hiatus, Gallery Chitrak is holding an important exhibition showcasing original artworks by the aforementioned 11 artists. 

Eminent art connoisseur and collector Abul Khair, Chairman of Bengal Foundation, graced the inaugural ceremony as chief guest on March 28. Renowned art collector Syed Durjoy Rahaman Joy attended the event as special guest while Professor Rafiqun Nabi presided over the programme.   

Shilpacharya Zainul Abedin's lifelong perseverance was to depict various aspects of human crises. He famously created famine sketches and his work “Mother and Child”, a woodcut, is a rare masterpiece displayed at the show. Art aficionados will also be amazed at the sight of drawings and oil titled “Birongona” by the master.

Patua Quamrul Hassan's “Famine” (lithograph) is an astounding example of his sketching the ramifications of the crisis. One can even count the feathers of the vultures eating up the dead in the realistic work. The awful expressions of the vultures evoke the plight and sufferings of the people and animals. 

Shilpaguru Safiuddin Ahmed's “Memories of 71” (copper engraving) stirs up the weeping eyes of freedom loving Bangalees. The artist's “Bakura Landscape” (wood engraving) beckons an idyllic morning.  Two of his charcoal and crayon works portray sunflower and labourers with a fiddler on the roof.

Mohammad Kibria's “Memorial: V” (etching) signifies the emblem as homage to the martyrs. Proper space division with geometric forms are the beautiful features of the works.   

Aminul Islam's “Farmer Family” (watercolour on paper) represents an imagery of pastoral interlude. The viewers will find some exclusive drawings, beautiful compositions and a depiction of nature by the master.

It is an ethereal experience to watch “Tornado Balarchor - 1 & 2” by Abdur Razzaque. The artist's portrayal of Badda series and the golden harvest-time in a village is a singular aspect of his works. Art lovers are more familiar with Rashid Chowdhury's tapestry works. Here they will have the opportunity to see his watercolours, poster colours and charcoal works at the show.  

Murtaja Baseer's treatment of colours, forms, textures and fine compositions in his Image series (aquatint) are on display at the show. Samarjit Roy Chowdhury's depiction of festivities is evocative of unbroken folk forms and geometric shapes.

Other attractions are Rafiqun Nabi's life-sized works mostly on acrylic and mixed media. His “Mother and Child”, “Shepherd”, “A Happy Afternoon” and of course “Tokai and his Friends” are fine example of realistic works. His art is marvelous in its extremely mature colours, bold brushworks and an array of forms and shapes. The audience will also get to view his famous wood cut “A crow-chick, fallen from nest” at the show.

Minimalist guru Monirul Islam loves to celebrate open spaces in his paintings. Some of his recent acrylics like --“Songs of Paradise”, “Canciones de Otono”, “Autumn Dialogue” and “Hanging Garden of Babylonia” are on display at the exhibit.        

The exhibition, open from 10am to 8pm daily, will conclude on April 20.