Splendours of Oriental Art

Artworks by Mohosin Kabir

A weeklong group Oriental Art exhibition, titled “Sadanga”, featuring watercolours of six promising artists is on at Zainul Gallery, Faculty of Fine Arts (FFA), University of Dhaka. Dean of FFA Professor Abul Barq Alvi, inaugurated the exhibition as chief guest on February 22. Associate Professor of the Department of Printmaking, Anisuzzaman Anis and Assistant Professor of the Department of Oriental Art, Artist Malay Bala were present as special guests at the opening.  
The participating painters -- Mustakina Tarin, Mohosin Kabir, Iskandar Mirza, Irin Sultana Liza, Nahida Akter Nisha and Tanjima Tabassum Easha -- (MFA students at the Department of Oriental Art) are exhibiting their 33 of their watercolours.
The artworks displayed at the exhibition feature nature in its artistic diversity, floral motif, insects, animal, figurative and a miniature painting. Works on nature and calligraphy have stood out while the figurative ones fell flat creating the true appeal of Oriental Painting, originally styled by Abanindranath Tagore, Nandalal Bose and other pioneers.    
One of Tanjima Tabassum Easha's works, titled “composition”, illustrates an illusion of colours like crimson and yellow. Her depiction of several oriental eyes coupled with artistic lines deserves accolades. Her other works includes “Shokhi”, “Baul”, “Arpon” and “Mughal Miniature”
“Re-cycle of Nature” is an outstanding artwork that Nahida Akter Nisha portrayed. The watercolour, demonstrates her impetuous talent in oriental expressions, with minute plant motifs. The artist's depiction of several figures and faces in natural settings has a fantasy of strong yellow mingled with illusion of Prussian blue and Burnt Sienna. She focuses on the female visage and various aspects of nature in symbolic manner capturing dreams, beliefs and desires. Warm colours, technical detail and mellow textural intensity are common traits of her works. It seems that the light and shade are the symbols of tranquility and have a heavenly touch. Her other works are titled “Shiter Pitha”, “Study”, “A Dancer” and “Altaranga”.

Artworks by Mustakina Tarin

Mustakina Tarin's calligraphic work titled “Okkhordani” attempts a difficult conciliation between lyrical abstraction and pictorial articulation where line and colour are vital ingredients. The artist has brilliantly played with subtlety in using balanced subdued colours, amorphous forms and amazing textures with a game of light and shadow. Her other works at the exhibition include “Shapla Tular Din” “Ful”, “Somporko” and “Bornomala”.
Mohosin Kabir superbly depicted one of his works “Green Touch”. The art work delineates a blissful dragonfly sitting amid the celebrating fresh greenery. The work has nice tonal gradation and texture. His other works include “Evergreen”, “Root Searching”. “Shojibota”, “Destroy” and “Fulel”.
Iskandar Mirza deftly used mature colour with textures in depicting “Horse of old Dhaka-1 and 2”. “Horse of old Dhaka-2” showcases the minute details of the head of a horse. His other works are “Memory of two Women” and “Flower Study-1, 2 and 3”.
Irin Sultana Liza portrayed one of her works titled “Sesh Porinam”. The work, immersed in blue, apparently denotes the unknown and untold feminine pain and pathos. Her other works include “Protikkha”, “Protiroop”
“Adhar-er Roop” and “Nature-1”.
The main intention of practicing oriental art is to divulge the splendid and affluent traditional art of Asia to save and nurture the continuity of our own art trend. Following the objective and principles of Bengal school, which was initiated in opposition to western academic realism, the students of Oriental Art Department of FFA have been practicing this genre of art since the mid fifties of the last century.
The exhibition is open from 10 am to 8 pm everyday and will continue till February 28.