The transparent splendor of greenery

Shohag Parvez has a passion for drawing and believes in experimentation. In his short career span, he has developed a style, particularly in his drawings and detail sketches. His figure-based works are very rapidly done. His paintings are principally a means to visually imagine the natural world in which he finds himself. He has the longing and ability to transform his visual insight of the world into a material form. The main traits of his work are perception and simple expression.
The artist's solo art exhibition titled “Beautiful Bangladesh” is now on at Galleri Kaya in Uttara.
Hills and the people of the hilly areas are one of his prime subjects. At the exhibition, a large number of his watercolours focus on mountain life, miles apart from our lives in the plains. Earlier, many painters such as Murtaja Baseer, Hashem Khan, Monirul Islam, Rafiqun Nabi, Alokesh Ghosh and others portrayed mountain life for bringing a variation in their artworks. Shohag is one of their ardent followers. The artist meticulously portrays mountain sights and their surrounding atmosphere. He frequently visited the areas and painted them. He does not believe in copying from photographs.
Boats and rivers are yet another passion of the artist. He has painted different types of boats in different localities in our country. Some boats that are not usually seen in our country any more have been the subject of some of his paintings. The painter continues to work on this significant subject as he feels that the paintings should be of historical value.
Shohag embarked on his primary education at Kushtia Zilla School. On completion of his primary education, he gained admission at Kushtia Khongsara College. During this time, he started copying the works of old masters like Helen Parsley, Spencer Frederick Gore, John Constable, William Turner and Van Gogh. He was engrossed with their works, particularly their tones, textures and use of light and shade. Afterwards, Shohag brought romanticism and pure scenic beauty in his works. His colours are often subdued and quiet, which can translate the significance of the themes. He mainly painted rural, riverine beauty and greenery of our rural areas.
Shohag Parvez is simultaneously a water colourist and acrylic painter. His water colours are superb in terms of his meticulous techniques and in creating the effects of plein-air watercolour. The artist's technique is particularly based on smooth wash and thin colour. He seeks to depict the simplicity of nature. “I find the greatest happiness and inspiration from natural forms and their realistic setting,” said the artist.
About his ongoing exhibition, Shohag says, “We are going through an unpredictable time. People have become more urbanised and they forget their roots and origins. Earlier the country was known for its greenery and unadulterated natural beauty. I don't like to focus on sorrow or ongoing social and political turmoil; I want to purely focus on untainted nature and its varied alluring aspects. I believe that we live in a state of turmoil and disorder because we are far away from nature. Soon this will be changed. As an artist I'm optimistic and confident.”
Shohag began his career as a naturist painter. He focuses on seasonal changes, tranquil landscapes, ponds, lakes, mustard and green paddy fields in autumn, rainy days and blue skies. Solitude and tranquility are two vital components in Shohag's works. The subjects of his works are in a somber mood and their characteristics are consistently highlighted. Lighting is a prominent feature in his paintings and the artist generally prefers glowing light and mystifying settings. At times, his figures (villagers, farmers and ethnic people) look immobile and propel us into reflecting on their experiences. The painter feels he must demonstrate their everyday woes and bliss on his canvas.
The exhibition will run till June 26.