Aishwarya Raihan

Growing up, I have read plenty of fairy tales, imagining those storied multiverses vividly. The colours and textures I visualised and sensed while reading those tales existed only in my mind. That was until I entered Bhumi Art Gallery last Sunday — the venue where “Epic Journey of a Migratory Bird”, the second solo painting exhibition by Syed Golam Dastagir, is on display.

Enakkhi Saha Roy, Ishrat Parveen Leena, and Ranjana Sayeed — a trio of visual artists driven by their love and passion for visual arts — are practicing artists whose second group exhibition, titled “Bindu”, is being hosted at Bhumi Art Gallery in Lalmatia. The inauguration event of the art exhibition took place on December 20, where painter Professor Emeritus Rafiqun Nabi graced the event as the chief guest. The exhibition was underway after the inaugural event consisting of performances of musicians from various genres.

Most of the artworks currently adorning the walls of Gallery Chitrak were created between 2016 and 2024. The exhibition features 70 pieces, including acrylic, oil, and watercolour paintings, etchings, drawings, charcoal works, and some of his iconic graphic designs for BTV. 

Reaching the 3rd level of Bengal Shilpalay, the first art piece greeting me in the lift lobby with its unique appearance was "Ria Moni", a tower constructed with children's toys. Created by Afsana Sharmin, this sculpture is a memorial for the six-year-old Riya Gope, who was shot dead on her apartment's rooftop during the Student Against Discrimination (SAD) Movement, leaving her family devastated. An intimidating installation with bamboo, sharp objects, water lilies, and severed doll parts is her way of visualising the movement. 

The name of the late legendary artist Kazi Abdul Baset stands strong among the intellectuals who contributed significantly to Bangladesh's artistic and cultural progress even before independence. In tribute to the drawings and paintings he created from the ‘60s to the ‘90s, a solo exhibition titled “Brishti-te Roder Kona” is currently being hosted at Bengal Shilpalay. The Bengal Arts Program has curated the exhibition.

The everlasting beauty of Bengal and her women, the past relics, and the present elements are currently assembled at Lone Star College Art Gallery, City of Tomball, Texas — creating a window from the USA, across the Atlantic, to Bangladesh. Tasnuva Rahman, a Bangladeshi-American visual artist has adorned the walls of the gallery with her heritage, memoir, and artistry for her second solo exhibition titled “Bengal Bliss and Harmony”. The event, curated by Jill Brumer, chair of the Fine Arts Department at Lone Star College and associate professor of Drama, is currently taking place in Texas.

A versatile artist, SAM Showket Hossain, competent in landscapes, still lives, abstract paintings, line art, and floral paintings — all of which radiate undeniable charms — uses colors and subjects fanning out the peaceful essence of a Friday morning. His skills have the ability to draw the attention of artists and non-artists alike.

Upon entering the gallery, the first drawing that intrigued me was that of a circle of infants with elongated heads. The artist through this drawing showed the immature extremism of people who blindly follow ideals without even questioning anything.

The exhibition title, “Matir Manush” (which means "people of the soil"), is a term used to describe humble, down-to-earth individuals. Fittingly, the tepa dolls often depict our people, birds, and animals.

Artists Masuda Khatun Jui and Jafrin Gulshan, who incorporate their passion and skills to touch the shores of surrealism, realism, and symbolism, forge intriguing art pieces that are not just for the eyes, but also for the depths of our minds. These paintings and installations— currently being hosted as a duet visual arts exhibition, titled “Embracing Inharmonious”, at Kala Kendra— delve into the women, lifestyles, thought processes, and political, social, and cultural aspects of our country.

The finest characteristic of Amitab’s paintings is that they invoke emotions and create a chain of thoughts. His artworks speak of his commitment to proportions and balance. His imagination comes alive through the colours and textures of his canvases. Calm and chaos both exist in his works harmoniously. According to the curator, the artist orchestrates atemporal, and spatial configurations with deliberate and methodical approaches and they align with the aesthetics of the abstract. 

Artist and researcher Sabyasachi Hazra, who graduated from the Faculty of Fine Arts at the University of Dhaka, has become popular amongst the young and up-and-coming artists of this country primarily due to his unique strokes and style.

Jayatu Chakma, an emerging artist from Rangamati, unveils his second solo exhibition, "Until the Rongrang Sings", the first one being held in Kolkata. Renowned figures like Artist and Professor Dhali Al Mamooon and Queen Yan Yan, advisor of Chakma Circle and Indigenous Human Rights activist, graced the inauguration ceremony. 

Papa Nurunnahar Kazi, a name resonating with artistic versatility, celebrates 50 years of her creative journey with “Ami Ek Jajabor” (The Wanderer). Recently inaugurated at the Safiuddin Gallery in Dhanmondi, the exhibition showcases 57 captivating artworks, each reflecting Papa's diverse talents. From vibrant renditions of wildlife to thought-provoking political commentaries, Papa's oeuvre reflects a lifetime of exploration and innovation.

Earlier on February 2, the Greater Columbus Arts Council (GCAC) in Ohio, USA, unveiled a captivating exhibition titled "Art of Bangladesh". Curated by Dina Zaman, a graduate of the Faculty of Fine Arts, University of Dhaka, this exhibition promises to be a celebration of Bangladeshi art and culture, captivating audiences for three months with a diverse collection of creativity.

The inauguration of “Metropolitan Melodies”, the second solo art exhibition by artist Biplab Biprodas took place in the gallery of Art Bangla Foundation on March 1. The ceremony was graced by the presence of renowned artist Prof Rashid Amin, chairperson of the Department of Printmaking at Jagannath University as the main guest.

The inauguration of “Inward Gaze”, the first solo art exhibition of Syeda Asma Akber took place at the capital’s Gallery Chitrak, Dhanmondi yesterday (February 24). The event was graced by the presence of cartoonist Professor Rafiqun Nabi as the chairperson, famous artist Monirul Islam and Professor Nisar Hossain, Dean of the Faculty of Fine Arts at the University of Dhaka as special guests.

Shilpangan, a contemporary art gallery in the capital held the opening ceremony of “Kauthopokauthon”, the fourth solo exhibition by artist Samar Majumder on February 16. The event was inaugurated by the writer, researcher, and trustee of the Liberation Museum, Mofidul Hoque. Writer and art critic, Prof Moinuddin Khaled attended the event as the special guest. Following the cordial speeches regarding the artist, the exhibition was initiated.

"Duality" is an artistic collaboration between Salma Zakia Bristy and her son, Mashrafi Aveen. Each mother shares a unique story with her child, and Bristy is no exception. A visual artist and mother of two, her younger son Aveen has Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) with ADHD personality traits, as diagnosed by doctors when he was 18 months old.

One winter evening in January, I found myself at the Kala Kendra Gallery in Lalmatia, Dhaka. Currently hosting a group art exhibition, Kala Kendra presents “Jogsutro”, featuring 15 Bangladeshi artists who have returned after completing their studies at Rabindra Bharati University.