Life, a 15-day group exhibition featuring the lives of women started at Gallery Cosmos in the city on Tuesday. The exhibition tries to portray the life of women in different styles, forms, colours and ideas by a total of 15 artists. The showing will be open till March 25.
The exhibition has been dedicated to three pioneering women in Bangladesh who are Begum Rokeya, Begum Sufia Kamal and Jahanara Imam. The talented women artists through their works have tried to acknowledge the courage, dedication and sacrifices of these three women in their own fields. The entire exhibition turns out as a message to the viewers to perceive the contribution in building a better and brighter future for all the Bangladeshi women.
An artwork named Glitz by Nazia Andaleeb Preema is on display that immediately provokes the spectator to think twice. About her work, the bold and dynamic artist said: “Women, all over the world are always challenged by the societal norms. She becomes the victim of glamour, glitz and festivals. She always acts in a certain way, regardless of her merit, aspiration, belief and talent. Yet, she rises above all and tries to stand tall despite her sufferings. She simply becomes the celebration of a stereotyped myth of womanhood.”
Maksuda Iqbal Nipa loves to play with colour and new techniques of art. She is an artist who would go beyond a theme and subject, and make her own creation outstanding. The experimental artist explaining her work titled Beneath the Surface, said: “The colours on my canvas keep on evolving every moment. Working on oil on canvas, I tried to create an illusion. The technique is referred as optical illusion. It gives a vibrant look at the surface. It is fun to play and perceive when two colours are merged in a new way and creates a whole different version.”
Curator, coordinator and participiant of Life Afrozaa Jamil Konka said: “I always want to portray the power that a woman has inside her. To mark the International Women’s Day, we have brought fifteen artists of wide range in one platform. The artists’ endeavour differs from one another. We invited veteran artists, along with emerging ones to showcase different perceptions.”
“My series Faded Memories is about Rana Plaza. In my work, I wanted to portray the process of woman empowerment the obstacles. I have tried to draw those obstructions through the symbol of a crow.”
The inaugural ceremony was accompanied by Heather Cruden, High Commissioner, Canadian High Commission and eminent human rights activist Khushi Kabir.