Fairy tales and dreams…

Kazi Barin's solo exhibition at Dhaka Art Centre drew waves of young art lovers.
 Like many artists, Barin believes that happiness and peace lies in a return to nature--a philosophy propounded by Nietzsche. Barin's  buoyant works are peppered with myths and fairytales surrounding mermaids, sea shells, flying horses,  muscular men with wings, beautiful, bejewelled women, floating to the notes of a “bansari”(flute). They also revolve around statuesque, long--limbed women with red tresses and bat wings, courted by a man with a sickle and scales on his calves. Giant roses, ruby lilies and yellow daisies dot his images. His fairies are found among tree trunks with leaves, and tender tree shoots. Even though such works are crafted with ballpoint pen on paper the picture is idyllic and enchanting.
  Masks, flying birds, tiny pyramids in burnt-sienna, a sunflower, a purple bird with the visage of a boy, gliding by, uncurling leaves, emerald fish, shapely women and strong men with bulging biceps and greenish wings appear in one of Barin's pictures. The artist's works are full of energy and dramatic thoughts. His canvases and paper are filled with birds, bees, flowers, fish and courting men and women--found in harmonious and joyous co-existence. “Our nature is dying and I cannot take it anymore,” says the despondent artist. A golden tail-swinging lion, pink and white lily buds float on a river. A purple peacock, with a gold and pink crest is visible. Piping pink male angels, and others playing the guitar or the harp, shaded blue and purple are added to the shower of music from the heaven. A lady in purple remains the centre of the painting. She too plays a guitar-like instrument, resting on a grassy bank, with yellow and white daisies. The reason why music plays a lead role in many of Barin's work is because he is a musician himself and is a member of two bands, like many young artists today. He says his exhibition is the outcome of his rich imagination.
 One image has a man with tiny elephants and trees at the back. Along with this are butterflies and a disc of the sun. This picture is done in gold. He had also done a replica of a drawing by Leonardo da Vinci. Both centre on angels. The swirls of drapery took the place of the wings, says the young painter, in his early 30s. There is a lady with a tiny nymph with flowers over her. The lady symbolises the mother image, who is always beautiful, says Barin. The rose is green, a rare species of the flower. Near her hair are flowers that appear akin to the “krishnachura”. Yet, Barin's drawings are not the reproduction of reality, for imagination guides and carries him onwards. There are three ripples of waves. A mermaid is depicted in another image. She is being courted by a demon, which looks like a satyr with his horns. There are a red crab, a cactus tree and a dragon, added to them, which create an element of fear and danger.
“When I open my eyes in the morning, I hear joyful birds singing --making every morning a good one. This inspires me and tells me a new story every day. I see miracles creating wonders which pushes me beyond the horizon. But the sky is full of nuclear parts. Even the birds need to breathe,” says the artist.
One picture is inspired by Zainul Abedin's and SM Sultan's figure drawings. There is a figure carrying food for the countrymen. “Our people don't have enough to eat and yet they must plod on,” says the artist, who believes in glorifying the people of Bangladesh.   
      The artist has studied at the Institute of Fine Arts, DU.