The fifteenth solo painting exhibition “Colours from Soul” by Syed Iqbal is on at Bengal Gallery of Fine Arts till September 19. The art lovers will appreciate the substantial display of as many as 48 artworks by the gifted artist.
The colour palette of his displayed work is inspired by the colours of the season fall. Residing in Canada, the artist is enthralled by the red leaves falling from the trees during fall. When talking about the colours of his works, the artist expresses: “Colours give birth to an artist and his soul is flourished by colours and its magnificence.”
Variant hues of blue, green and yellow can be seen in his artworks. The extensive use of red in his paintings shows his appreciation of the red leaves falling from the trees in Canada.
The surrealism and semi abstract work of the artist are done in acrylic on canvas. Iqbal also uses an experimental mixture on canvas by using hot raising and making it in gala, which is embedded in an aesthetic pleasing and invoke the boldness of his works.
A prominent dimension of his displayed works is the struggle of women being victimised by the patriarchal society, the message is depicted boldly in his art pieces. His works “You 1971” on “Bironganas” seek justice and he titles them as freedom fighters. His exceptional piece “Eve” depicts a woman’s distorted face, which is turning blue, as the social structure is injecting venom to her body. The eyes of Eve are coming out in pain, anguish, intolerance and anxiety.
The radiant shades of the colours on canvas bring an illusion, sensitivity and showcase a distinct style of painting. His lyrical and poetic paintings are aesthetic and pleasing in nature.
Iqbal is residing in Canada for the last twenty years and is the proud host of numerous exhibitions in Montreal and Canada. He had fourteen solo exhibitions and five group exhibits in both home and abroad. He is also the first Bangladeshi artist who had the opportunity to hold a solo exhibition in Yorkville’s Gallery Hittite, Toronto. Artist Iqbals’s artwork has been collected by University of Toronto and The Parliament of Canada, Ottawa.