Camaraderie among 12 painters

Essence of Nature by Samarjit Roy Chowdhury (left) and Bond by Syed Enayet Hossain (right)

Group exhibitions definitely create an opportunity to exchange views for the participating painters. Dhaka Art Circle was set up in 1994, since then the organisation has arranged regular exhibitions. They have lost two talented painters and devoted members -- artists Golam Sarwar and Shamsul Islam Nizami. Aesthetic contributions of new members have provided Dhaka Art Circle with new dimensions. The group is led by two talented painters -- Samarjit Roy Chowdhury and Abu Taher. They are always on the look out for new talents. Here's a look at some of their works and themes.
Samarjit Roy Chowdhury is a renowned Bangladeshi artist, who has been active from the mid 1950s. He is one of the most distinguished painters of our country, who has made a great contribution to our art. He is exceedingly fond of experimenting and trying out new forms and techniques. It is this inclination, which has helped him to hold his position in the forefront of the Bangladeshi art scenario. Art is his passion. Patriotism and adoration for nature in his art is praiseworthy.
Culture and heritage reveal our identity and of the artists who have been trying to recover our folk and traditional work, Abdus Shakoor is one. Folk ballads of Mymensingh -- the famous Mahua and Malua love stories -- are the main themes from which he depicts stories with elements and motifs like Nakshi Kanthar Maath, Gazir Pat and Manosha Pat. Shakoor's works delineate various types of male-female figures, various animals and reptilian images. He tries to focus on the expression of female faces, specially the eyes. Text featured in his paintings come from the different ballads and folklore. He has used motifs such as “alpana” patterns and various types of animals found in our country. He has also used some geometrical shapes like rectangles, straight lines and circular forms.
Biren Shome's work is forceful not only because of his bold use of colours and mastery of shadows and depth, but because of the unique way in which he recognises his subjects. He has contained this extreme beauty in his imaginative and artistic mind, which is reflected on his affluent canvases. He is fascinated by romanticism and human relationship.
Passionate and fervent, artist Matlub Ali, shies away from the atmosphere of fame, money, wealth and domination. He is simultaneously an artist, a musician, a critic and a writer. He has shown outstanding evidence in both creativity and skill in each branch. Matlub has held only a few solo exhibitions though his works are many. Sincerity, dedication and depth of knowledge have helped him to reach his present position. He claims to be introverted and has little interest in interacting with others.
Abu Taher is another participant in this exhibition. He has been a prolific painter and always tries to carry an individual hallmark in his works. His work reflects a contemplative and thinking mind, one that searches for the right relation between figures, spaces and compositions. The colours of his canvas give us a quixotic and imposing view. A number of works reveal the contemplative and pensive mood of Bengali women. After viewing the works, one realises the simplicity and the beauty of simplicity.
Mohammad Mohsin is always searching in his passages through the vast diverse ocean of nature to enrich his works. His enthused images blend up a symbiotic relationship with nature, a marriage of panorama and dream that enables the artist to use nature's most elegant views with advantage.
Dhaka Art Circle's group exhibition is on at Bengal Gallery of Fine Arts, Dhanmondi. The exhibition ends on August 31.

The writer is a freelance contributor.