Noted artist Biren Shome’s retrospective featuring selective works done by the artist in his long artistic career spanning over four decades
is going on at the Dhaka Art Center in Dhanmondi.
The untitled show displays 52 prints created at different times since 1969 to 2013 applying various methods such as etching,
relief process and collagraph. Baul is one of the earliest works by Shome, showcased at the exhibition. Created in 1969 by etching process, which is a printmaking method, done using acid on metal sheet, the vibrant artwork depicts a traditional Baul singer in crimson attire, playing the folk musical instrument dotaara.
The war of independence had a tremendous impact on the artistic mind of Shome. Some of the artworks he created after the war expose the courage of the freedom fighters and the spirit of the national flag.
In the artwork titled Three Faces, Shome has depicted three faces in shades of red against a backdrop of green. Done through etching, the artwork also includes the national flag situated on top of the artwork. The faces, glowing with vigor and determination, reveal the patriotic spirit of the freedom fighters for their country in the artwork created post- war in 1979.
The beauty of women has been a subject of Shome’s artwork from time to time. A side profile of a woman with vines and climber plants on the foreground, a bird and a full moon on the backdrop have been etched in the monochrome artwork in 1989.
Shome’s passion for Rabindranath Tagore is obvious in his artwork Tribute to Tagore made in 2011. Shome has used collagraph method, which is process of printmaking using wood made dices, to create the artwork which will surely make one pause to take a good look at Tagore’s aged, bearded face appearing on an ancient wall.
Most of the relief artworks of Shome are in monochrome of black and white, involving a process using block and paper. A woman holding a mirror capturing her reflection has been illustrated by Shome in a relief print titled Women.
‘The exhibition documents my artistic endeavours over five long decades,’ Shome told New Age
Inaugurated on June 28, the exhibition will remain open for everyone from 3:00 to 8:00pm till July 24.
-With New Age input
