Hamiduzzaman Khan’s Solo Exhibition
Watercolours and Sculptures
Hamiduzzaman Khan is a well-known sculptor. He is recognised for his metal-based works, where he mainly focused on forms and geometrical shapes. He is also adept in watercolour and painting. His latest solo exhibition, titled “Watercolours and Sculptures”, is now on at Galleri Kaya in Uttara.
Khan is energetic and seemingly restless. He finds peace in his work, which can be sculpture, painting or drawing. But his major reorganisation as a sculptor came in early 80s when he was commissioned by the Bangladesh Government to decorate the fountain at the front entrance of the Bangabhaban with a sculptural work. Most of his sculptures are either stylised figurative (both male and female shapes) or abstract forms, in painted steel, concrete cement, bronze and other metals. At the exhibition, most of his works are based on bronze, where he has focused on human figures in motion, animal, bird forms and geometric compositions.
Though Khan is an urban artist who mostly resides in Dhaka, he likes to spend his time away from the city’s chaos. He frequently visits rural areas, and that is why his work (particularly watercolour) has highlighted greenery, rural panorama, cloudy sky, deep forest and hills. At the exhibition, his semi-realistic and abstraction of landscape, and the lucidity of the watercolour techniques, enhance his use of the background. At times, shadow and blurred forms appear in his watercolours. Solitude and serenity are two vital components in his works. The subjects of his works are in a sombre mood and their characteristics are highlighted. Lighting is a prominent feature in the works and the artist generally prefers glowing light and mystifying setting.
Khan’s quiet and intensely contemplative landscape contains a symbolism that alludes to peace and hope in nature. He produces plein air watercolour and focuses his attention on impressive phenomena such as soft light and drizzle, which reflects his study on landscape.
For this exhibition, Khan has done a number of faces in watercolours. The faces are not identical and each face expresses a unique reaction and look. The facial expressions denote pleasure, horror and melancholy. His overall composition is styled with curves and many hues.
His paintings (acrylic on canvas) highlight thick colours and rough textures. It should be mentioned that the artist has been greatly influenced by abstract expressionism (particularly paintings) where unintentional, sturdy brushstrokes characterise the works. Sometimes, he has purposely created profound texture according to the paintings’ requirements. The exhibition puts on display painting, sculpture and watercolour.
The exhibition ends on June 6.
-With The Daily Star input
