Artistic extravaganza

An artwork by Md Mainuddin.

The drawing extravaganza by Md. Mainuddin, occupied many rooms of the  Dhaka Art Centre. The display continued till June 17.
In one of the drawings the artist shows a dotara artiste instructing his young son who is clad in a multi-coloured striped shirt.
In another drawing we see a widow with a nose ring. Her hair is askew. She wears a flimsy white blouse and sari as protection. In “Waiting for Last Judgement” the subject has a flowing beard a walking stick in hand and  many rows of beads around his neck. The white drapery is for effect. The drawings are all in black and umber, with a smattering of colour. In 2004, Mainuddin got the Best Award from the Fine Arts Department DU for his portrait on old dying men.
For the charcoal on paper, 76 cm by 106 cm is a long self portrait of the artist with a head band like the Caesars from Roman times. There are curtains at both ends of the enormous drawing. Above his head are two caged vultures, to bring in the elements of horror. He has used English newspapers in the background over which he has painted. He has done the drawing with charcoal and at times has applied light acrylic colours.
The theatre curtains surround the vast scenario. A woman is wearing a banner from the road, crying for clothes, food and shelter. People are seen in front trying to drown their sorrows in music. Women akin to sex-workers, live from hand to mouth. The gathered children are not drawn by the music.
An MFA student, Mainuddin has received the Aminul Islam Scholarship thrice. He won an award in the 5th South Asian Youth Festival in 2011. He also won a Grand Prize from the Shilpakala Academy and the Rashid Chowdhury Smriti Parishad in 2010.