Young artist Sumon Wahed addresses the disappointment and frustration towards the socio-political happenings in the country at an ongoing exhibition.
The exhibition, taking place at the Dhaka Art Centre in Dhanmondi, displays 50 artworks in different mediums created by the artist.
One of the most captivating works on display at the exhibition is the mixed media artwork titled Prison, where Wahed shows a prison van on his large canvas. It does not take time to recognise the blue van which carries prisoners, and so often seen on the streets of the city.
In the artwork, Wahed’s brilliance lies in the portrayal of the vividness of the frightened and despaired looks of the prisoners looking through the barbed windows of the van.
‘I have encountered such prison vans on street. Everytime I see them what flashes my mind are the innocent and frightened faces of the prisoners’, shared Sumon.
Another thought-provoking work at the exhibition is Am I Wise? On a large canvas, Wahed has brought the incongruities around us through the ill representations of the film cartoons from the over-exposed female actors to the terrifying thugs in the films. In the middle of the artwork is a man sitting with legs crossed and showing an act of ignorance by either covering his eyes, his mouth or his ears.
‘If I remain unaffected by the happenings around us, of which we really should be concerned, shall I be called wise is my question,’ says Wahed, who is passionate about bringing socio-political absurdities in his works.
Other works at the exhibition show the artist’s brilliant exposition of different objects, in sketches.
Pencil sketches titled Still Life and Landscape are sure to fascinate the visitors. In the drawing Wahed is very detailed in presenting expression to the slightest nuance of the object he is working on.
Sumon Wahed being a fresh graduate in MFA is displaying the works he did during and after his academic period. The exhibition is, therefore, titled Academic Postacademic which is the artist’s first solo exhibition.
A good number of visitors were present at the inauguration of the exhibition. Many of them expressed their taste about the works.
‘I love Wahed’s works, especially his drawings and the mixed media work Prison,’ said Shahin Reza Noor, an art aficionado.
‘Sumon is a very promising artist. I hope he would follow his passion and will produce more of his nice works’, said eminent artist Rafiqun Nabi.
AAMS Arefin Siddique, vice-chancellor of Dhaka University, inaugurated the exhibition, while seasoned artist Rafiqun Nabi presided over the inauguration.
The exhibition will be open for all from 3pm to 8pm till February 03.
-With New Age input
