What we left behind

They named their exhibition Anamnesis, a Greek term that means to look back. Like the name, Iskinder Mirza, one of the artists featured at the exhibition, promises art lovers the opportunity to travel through the lost traditions of a bygone era, while artist Mazharul Islam attempts to offer a glimpse of the pain and sufferings that individuals keep buried in their subconscious. 

Mirza and Islam's working style and educational background might be very disparate, but their passion for art brought them together to organise a joint exhibition in Peda Ting Ting's Café Gallery, situated in Gulshan 1, where you'll find 21 paintings by Mirza and eight paintings by Islam. 

Despite having no formal background in art, Islam, a student of English Literature, believes that he can paint best when he is in pain. That's probably the reason why one feels emotionally connected with the artwork of this talented artist. Some of the paintings have a dark and foreboding undertone, as they seem to represent the negativity of life, touching you at the right spot as you feel a deep sense of connection with the work presented in front of you. 

His painting 'Destruction', for example, simply shows a number of hands trying to reach for the same thing, pointing toward the hunger for power that's human nature. "Greek mythology influenced me a lot when I was studying English literature," says Islam. "I derive my inspiration from the frustration that we face on a regular basis and the sufferings of people."

Mirza, on the other hand, is more interested in portraying the dying traditions of our country. Nature lies at the core of his paintings.

The subtle pigments of watercolour on his canvas showcase the age-old traditions of old Dhaka and the serenity of our rural life that are bound to take us back to the glory days of our culture, history and tradition. 

"I love doing detailed work using watercolour as the medium," says the artist. "They help me express my thoughts aptly."

His series on horses of Old Dhaka shows how integral they were to the lifestyle of people, while other paintings like "Moulvibazar" displays the beauty and serenity of rural Bangladesh.

If you want to take some time off from the hectic Dhaka life, and travel through the roads of history or introspect about life and its various meanings, while enjoying a scrumptious meal, be sure to check out this exhibition by two very talented artists.  

The exhibition will continue until October 21, 2015.