Basilio, a newly opened art gallery in Dhaka, has organised a group art exhibition featuring the works of three painters — Farida Zaman, Ranjit Das and Maksudul Ahsan.
Farida Zaman is the senior-most painter in the group. The artist is known for her paintings on riverine life in Bangladesh — highlighting the fishermen community. As a socially aware painter, her works reveal the harsh life of working class people. Cats, nets, fish and petite women are noticeable in her paintings. She prefers using crimson, blue and yellow on her spacious canvas.
At the exhibition, one of her paintings shows a fish caught in the net, featuring a dotted texture.
Zaman said, “Nature, surroundings and nostalgia involving both get a prominent place in my paintings. My paintings reflect nature and life as I recall. I get inspired by a range of subjects around me.”
Ranjit Das’ figures put on view a range of dispositions. He often focuses on a particular limb or fraction of a human figure. Das builds up his lines and textures with a particular way that create a signature style. Through his works, the artist frequently touches upon the boundaries of expressions with subtle scribbles and geometrical shapes. His lines are suggestive and stimulating.
One of his paintings at the exhibition is titled “Images & Reflections”, where the artist beautifully articulates two teenage girls in a certain frame of mind. Miniature forms, arrows and broken lines have enriched the work.
Das said about his works: “Forms and their varied facets always create an impression on me. Subject, mood and expression are notable aspects of my work.”
Maksudul Ahsan is one of the notable Bangladeshi painters who earned recognition the late 1980s. Ahsan likes to make portraits of renowned individuals representing different eras. But the artist has not confined himself to any particular theme. Over the years, he has concentrated more on abstract forms and compositions. Serenity and mystery get the focus in his works. In recent times, “Black” is one of his notable series where he mainly experiments with the shade and some other hues for a harmonising effect.
The exhibition ends on July 19.
-With The Daily Star input
