A duet exhibition titled Two Bangals by eminent artists from two generations, Hashem Khan and Mohammad Iqbal, is going on at Gallery Twenty One at Dhanmondi.
The exhibition features Bengal’s rural magnificence, natural colour, mysticism, people, childhood, spirituality and life. Their presentation of exploring Bengal’s glory sets a different dimension through their paintings and the use of various bold oil and acrylic colours, thick brush strokes and arrangements grabs the eyesight first.
Hashem Khan has contributed to Bangladeshi art history for more than 50 years. His experimentation with relationships between life and nature portrays the realistic presentation of rural objects such as women figure, geometric shape, pastoral sight, lifestyle of rural people, their daily activities, rural object and many more. His composition displays a ceremonial simplicity and the use of symbols is undemanding. His colour compositions dovetail with the emotion of people and the beauty of nature.
Mohammad Iqbal stepped into the Bangladeshi art arena in the 1990s. His philosophical themes and experimental paintings are recognised for their impulsive spirit. His compositions and themes took a demanding space as his works explained a powerful interplay of figures and space.
Mohammad Iqbal’s paintings are captivated with various evident and indistinct figures such as, oppressed people and spirituality. In his paintings, he emphasises on the bitter realities of society. His approach through his sensible presentation, the series of Unknown Faces is dominated by children whom he regards as neglected and mistreated. Through the oval shaped faces, it shows their dreams and the pain on their eyes.
Bauls and sages also were also portrayed on his canvas representing the philosophy of Bauls life. Spirituality and saintliness are very apparent on his paintings. He has painted bearded faces, along with red clothing, beads, and horns of buffalo, animals, talisman and trident. He also painted middle aged figures, rivers, hills, vessels and ancient edifice.
Professors Burhanuddin Khan Jahangir, Muntassir Mamun and Syed Manzoorul Islam, along with poet Rabiul Hussain inaugurated the exhibition on February 6. The exhibition will continue till March 1.
This is a part of a two-series exhibition; one is currently taking place at Gallery Twenty One and the other will be held at Gallery Chayamachi in Osaca, Japan.