Priyabhashini -- you've come a long way!

Artworks by Priyabhashini

Ferdousy Priyabhashini has captured the imagination of the art lovers in Bangladesh. It was not easy for her to capture the attention of the connoisseurs, critiques and art lovers in Dhaka and elsewhere in Bangladesh. She persevered with driftwood pieces with dexterity and imagination. For a self-taught artist and basically a homemaker, she has come a long way.
Priyabhashini's current exhibition at Dots Gallery proves beyond doubt that this artist has struggled and striven for so long -- with only SM Sultan and her immediate family and friends to egg her on. She has undoubtedly collected her wits, artistic sensibility, and penchant for representing truth and beauty.
Her themes may not be new, going by the display, but even the best of artists have often repeated their subjects. Her style remains somewhat modern and yet soothing, as far as possible and probable. As her health is not perhaps not the best today. Yet every year she has sailed on with her imaginative creations since 1991.
The way of preserving driftwood sculpture is certainly no easy task -- as she has repeatedly explained to art lovers for years together-- if asked to elaborate on her admirable creations. Whether she is presenting a lyrical scene of elements of flora and fauna, or giving a more nouveau angle of the twenty- first century existence, her presentation of Bangladesh has always been positive and imaginative.
"Angry mood", which presents a tiger roaring, shows the grace and beauty of a sprawled -out wild beast. Although the fangs, whiskers and glaring eyes of the tiger appear frightful-- yet there is no feeling or fear in the mind of the viewer. Priobhashini has made the animal ever so poised that it is breathtaking. "Sidr" suggests havoc, pain and a scene of total disaster. The ruination, however, is presented with sweeps, turns and twists of poised pieces of the beige driftwood.
"Urbanisation" presents the cram-jammed existence of modern cities. This endeavours to throw light on the harum-scarum, pell-mell, claustrophobic existence of our city life. The composition appears like some enormous vase, diagonal lines of some giant grey vase seen from afar. " My loving friends and nature" has superb filigree creation, made from branches, twines, entwined birds, and perched butterflies.
"Portrait" is another subtle piece, which suggest. The strength and peace of mind of a caressing couple is carefully suggested. "End of the day" has the trudging back home of a family of three farmer's family. Carrying a load of logs, the heaps of branches, poised on the heads of the couple. The two are in simple clothes, and the tiny child is clasping on to the father's clothes. This too is touching.
"Shajan badiyar ghat" is a reflection of the peace and harmony that one witnesses so often on the innumerable rivers banks of Bangladesh. The poised pieces of "The bird" and "The unhappy bird", again, speak of the unique beauty and grace, one encounters. This includes the beautiful forests and jungles around us in the country.
Ferdousy Priyabhashini has nine solo exhibitions to her credit. The exhibition ends on August 13.