A perceptive, acute and creative mind is often stirred by different borders and perimetres of its surrounding and inner realities that it faces.
The ‘borders’ are not to be taken as literal ones like those between countries or physical territories, but they are those that mark differences of any sort. As one colour borders off another, one man borders off his/her peers, one emotion is bordered by another and so on and so forth.These borders are, to say the least, subtle and slowly perceptible. Artist Shawket Ahmed, in his first ongoing solo exhibition at Dhaka Art Centre, has dealt with such perceivable borders in spectacular and arresting artworks done in different mediums.
Shawket has titled the collection and the exhibition ‘Crossing Through’, where his intention is to ‘paint the crosses he made through places, elements, persons, colorus, ups and downs, successes and failures, innumerous emotional incidents, good times and bad times, and, above all, through changes’.
In fact, the artist thinks, it is change that underlies the connotations and denotations of the word ‘border’. Putting the changes one feels and perceives of on canvas demands mainly a feat of sensitive and sensible use of colours and spaces.
Shawket seems well-versed in this artistic feat. The first, rough and ready impression these paintings are highly likely to impart is that of the artist’s level-headed use of diverse, effervescent colours within spaces, marked by geometrical and even botanical lines.
An acrylic work titled Storm over the Sea is a painting that artistically combines geometrical lines and evocative colours in a way that strongly divulge a storm in a green sea.
Another compelling work is Lost Moments where the artist has painted two paper-boats on rippling water. One of the boats in a half-drowning state makes the sense of ‘loss’ prominent. Moreover, to make his message clear, Shawket has gone on to create a number of squares in contrasting colours like red, black, beige and brown that circle the boats of ‘childhood merry-making moments’.
There are a few works too that carry self and socially conscious and conscientious messages. One such work is Beyond Humanity. Done in pen and pencil, the work shows a tree being cut down, which, for the artist, is something that the human society cannot and should not afford.
Other worth mentioning paintings on display at the exhibition are A White Crow, After the Harvest, Aqualife, Way to Home, and a few others.
Inaugurated by Ramendu Majumdar, worldwide president of International Theatre Institute, on Friday, the exhibition will remain open for all from 3pm to 8pm till April 10.
-With New Age input
