Emotion in Black: Solo Print Exhibition of Sadek Ahmed

‘Image of Life”, the first solo print exhibition of Sadek Ahmed, began on February 1 at Zainul Gallery, Faculty of Fine Arts.
Most of the paintings revolve around the ubiquitous rickshaws and the lives of the rickshaw-pullers.
As Ahmed explains,” I will not, as an artist, sit in the luxury of a Dhanmondi or Gulshan residence and paint. I would rather endeavour to depict the lives, lifestyles and emotions of Puran Dhaka (Old City ), or I will sit by a quiet river and paint, or maybe I will explore rural life and express it through my works.”
This young artist has already received recognition for his remarkable use of shapes in his images and his distinct use of water colours. In this print exhibition, Sadek has also articulately expressed the more subtle and enclosed aspects of our surroundings. His work is a voice of all those people who have been forced into silence by society. In “Image of Nature-2” there is a feeling of such a forced silence, as if in any moment the images will speak out. Maybe they have been silenced by the restraints of poverty and social status.
In “Rainy Day-2 “, the shades and reflections in the dark contrast have imbued the painting with a somewhat ghostly look, very similar to the gloomy, wet appearance of a rainy day. The work also demonstrates a typical scene of the .Old City
“To me black is the best medium. This colour has the ability to create the most expressions and emotions, ” he says. This explains the use of darkness in his paintings, that sometimes reflect a golden glow, as in the painting “Morning Light”.
“These people who live hard lives do not also have colourful dreams. They dwell in the dark as well, with only a hope of survival.”
Sadek says that the lives of the common people appeal to him. What they do, how they live, all these inspire his creativity.
Patterns and shapes, features have all taken up special meaning when put together. For example in the painting “Lyric of still life” each design and pattern has been so intricately cut into, and ingrained into the painting that it symbolises a common sense which is consistent to the philosophy of the artist.
Interestingly most of the paintings have the same lurking feeling of hope and despondence mixed in harmony. The artist relates this paradoxical phenomenon to the lives of rickshaw-pullers that are also a mixture of hope and disappointment.
Sadek has recently finished his academics. So after studies, what will he do next? “I will work as a freelance print-maker.”
Although this was the artist’s first solo exhibition, he has participated in numerous group exhibitions from 2001. The artist has also won Best Award in Water Colour, Best Award in Print Making and ”Rembrandt-400” honourable award. He has also taken part in many workshops.
Today is the last day of the exhibition.

Courtesy of The Daily Star