Art for a cause

Chitrak's Fund Raising drive “Human being for humanity” is aimed at supporting the victims of the Savar tragedy at Rana Plaza. The painting and prints range from the works of artists like Safiuddin Ahmed, Qayyum Chowdhury to Hashem Khan, AH Dhali Tomal and Shahid Kazi. Here are also the works of Biren Shome, Ahmed Shamsoddoha, Nasim Ahmed Nazir, Abul Barq Alvi, Rafiqun Nabi, Nasrin Akhter, Ahmed Nadvi, Naima Haque, Kanak Champa Chakma, Sheikh Afzal, Shishir Bhattachjee, Wakilur Rahman and others.

Looking at the paintings and prints, one finds Ahmed Shamusddoha with his boats on a flooded river. The water is gray and green. The sweeping and gathering clouds above range from puffy gray to jet-black.

Shishir Bhattachjee's print -- black on yellow ochre is simply divine. In style and concept, no one can surpass Shishir with the psychological insight, cynicism and humour. The creation consists of a weeping young man, a fish with waves and a paper boat within. There is also a collection of mittens, carrots and flowers. One also sees the beaks of sweeping down dove-like birds and a row of spiky grass.

Abdus Shakoor Shah has faces of three sun-drenched men at the back. Two sari-clad women are in front. Their bodies are blue, and they wear saris, with yellow checks and red blocks. His characters are taken from and ancient Mymensingh saga and the work is alive with colours. They have jewellery in their ears. There is Bangla calligraphy at the bottom to lend interest and explain the piece.

Shahid Kazi has a gray and black horse, rearing up on its hind legs and swishing its long, busy tail. Its hooves appear menacing.

Artworks by Rafiqun Nabi (left) and Mohammad Muniruzzaman.

Mohammed Muniruzzaman has eight white cranes with orange beaks. They appear to be happily paddling through the marshes, with the green forest at the background.

Sheikh Afzal has black buffaloes with hunched sun-burnt riders. There are fishing boats with large nets at the back. The backdrop has more buffaloes. Tree-tops, beige, white and blue bars of gathering clouds complete the composition.

Hashem Khan has a Baul with “Do-tara” in hand who sports a “punjabi” and shoulder-length hair. There are beige and brown strokes at the back that set off the composition in pale colours.

Mohammed Zahiruddin's water-colour has clouds in bars of gray, orange and jet-black for the rolling clouds. The beach in front has more bars of gray and white. There are also boats and men sporting red “lungis”.

Anisuzzaman has broken bits of doors, bricks, and stones on the ground. This is done in pale orange, pink, gray and white.

Naima Haq's frog -- with a flying neck scarf -- contains bars of eye-catching gray and white. The frog itself sits on a patch of grass. It appears so alive, you'd think it would leap and jump, and with time croak to its fill.

Rafiqun Nabi, with his black crows with wires in the mouth, sits on images of newspaper used as scrap. And surely this piece is creme de la creme with Qayyum Chowdury's cute
multi-coloured birds against a green and gray backdrop.

The exhibition will continue till June 12.