Wide array of thoughts on canvas

TAKIR HOSSAIN

Titled “Castles in the Sky”, late Sohrab Rahman Khan's first solo exhibition is on at Bengal Art Lounge, Gulshan in the city. The three-day exhibition was inaugurated on October 11. Sohrab succumbed to a sudden cardiac arrest on June 20 at the age of 38. He was a lecturer at the Economics Department of American International University, Bangladesh.
Sohrab was an amateur painter. He never exhibited his work, and rarely signed his canvases. His modes of expressions are varied but realistic and surrealistic approaches are in focus at the exhibition. He has portrayed varied subjects all around him. His paintings are distinguished by both strong and soft shades, scrupulous strokes and mellow textures. The painter worked in varied mediums for exploring the ins and outs of the particular medium. His dexterity has also been proven in his application of colours. His works include large vibrant canvases as well as small water colours. He tinted the environment, urban and semi-urban street scenes, citizens, animals and more. Well drawn objects, hazy figures are also noticeable. His works appear more patterned as space is very limited. Elephants in different sizes have been highlighted in a number of his works. The artist has portrayed this large animal as a symbol of vigour. The elephants appear well built and brawny. Some of his works are more realistic and detailed at the exhibition. The paintings feature soft colours and the artist had taken considerable time to create the foundation of the paintings.
A socially conscious artist, the artist painted people, capturing the diverse moments of their social bindings. He has captured both rural and urban people -- their sufferings, anguishes and ecstasies in his works. Sohrab has tried to express his feelings in simple compositions and colours. His colours are romantic and dreamy. That is why his paintings deserve admiration from art connoisseurs and viewers.
The painter also highlighted surrealistic imagery which captures fantasy, imagination and illusion. He tried to articulate political, social and emotional aspects of the human condition.