An Optimist's Vision

Journey of a Great Master

Ahmed Nazir is an artist who is acutely affected by what is going on around him, not just his immediate environment but in the world in general. His oils and mixed media work have been seen fairly recently at Divine and Chitrak galleries. A painter and print-maker of international repute, he shies away, when reminded that he is Safiuddin Ahmed's son. If genius is transferred by genes, Ahmed Nazir's several feats have their roots in the ambiance in his home – which is definitely an enlightened one.
His earlier paintings have always veered towards the idyllic and positive – although they too were post-modern pieces – dwelling on dreams and the symbolic moon image. Today, he dwells on bullet marks on walls, with dripping red blood, and dark X-ray vision, with X-ray plates. His prints are powerful, and produced after a tremendous amount of deliberation and care. To move away from the thought of turmoil, prevalent the world over, Ahmed Nazir, goes back to his romantic paintings, which he does with pastel colours and fine brush – work.
What you see internationally and at home, whether one calls it terrorism the world over, or what one experiences in the recent past in Bangladesh, should be examined deeply says Nazir adding, "We must turn inwards and examine ourselves. This is a must for progress. Most people on our globe, don't want anything evil. This is even if one considers a miscreant or a total war. Most individuals don't want terrorism. Yet many people suffer from it."

Journey of a Great Master a1

No man was deliberately created evil he says, thus there is something beautiful and admirable in all God's creatures."If a man – an integral part of an artist's work, is rough or crude, he is the product of his environment. One should try and change the inner burning of an individual. We tend to blame the developed world if we ourselves reside in the third world. Yet, I insist, this is not correct. The majority of people in the US and Europe don't want destruction. There is definitely a need for preservation of the earth's flora and fauna – and we the artists, try to do this in our own way, both at home and abroad."

(left)Journey of a Great Master 4, (right) Journey of a Great Master 3

Ahmed Nazir

What does the young but mature artist prefer – print-making, in which he is nonpareil, or painting in which he surpasses many in his generation? The artist says that both are equally his passion and occupation, as he gives a considerable time to both. For quite some time now, he does more prints. This is not for easy sale, as prints are cheaper. Yes, he has to earn a living for himself and his family of four. His wife, Sharmeen, is a professional painter too.
His respite is in painting. He listens to all types of music while he works. The music varies from instrumentals to Rabindrasangeet, Nazrulsangeet to folk music and even heavy metal. At leisure times he looks after his Alsations and multi-coloured pigeons and reads volumes of books on various subjects, especially art.