Proshanto holds up the glory of Sonargaon

The architecture of Sonargaon does not remain today; but a collection of ruins and books dealing with the subject
tell us of the glorious elegant Muslim past.

Proshanto Karmakar's acrylic at Shilpangan, in Dhanmandi, Dhaka, has captured the details of the beauty of Isa Khan's old capital city, which happens to be surrounded on four sides by rivers. It has Shitalakhya, Meghna, Dhaleshwari and Brahmapura -- to the east, west, south and north. It remains a favourite tourist attraction. It grew as a commercial hub of this Muslim enclave, which supplied high quality cotton to Rome and the rest of the world. This was in the 13th and 14th century. Famous travellers and writers -- Ibn Batuta, Ma Huan and Fa-hsien -- spoke of its importance in linking up China, India, and the Maldives, supplying Muslin, thinnest of handicrafts, made by the master weavers of Bangladesh.
It was only during the reign of Subedar Aslam Khan, during the Mughal reign, that this capital was moved to Jahangir Nagar. Paintings of this place by Proshanto remind us of the glorious past, with the intricate arches, balconies, alcoves, windows and doors -- with all the details of architecture -- covered with leaves, bushes and creepers, as only artists with and eye for details, like Proshato, can do.
The architecture of Sonargaon does not remain today; but a collection of ruins and books dealing with the subject tell us of the glorious elegant Muslim past. In those days doors and windows were not a subject of jerry-builders, with their harum-scarum creation. Architecture saw its heyday. At times, the artist sees a rickshaw of the present times, the narrow road that may bear only a one-horse carriage, and a motley of people. This, seen through a collection of broken doors, makes a wonderful artistic creation.
Seeing visitors today passing by the narrow lanes, with the overhead doors and windows, captures an interesting scene on a cobbled path.
A long corridor of the ruin, with its latticed ceiling, alcoves and main doors, enduing in a peep of the garden beyond, creates another interesting acrylic vision. A close-up of a corner, with four windows, a corner wall, and three arched windows, makes a fascinating architectural piece, drawn with fine lines. The brick tiles make the creation as earth-shattering as any. This has an inclusion of mauve and green washes.
Proshanto has exhibited in the US and Japan. He has had 11 solo art exhibits and 5 photo exhibitions.