A solo art exhibition titled “Of Man and Earth II” by Syed Jahangir is on at the Bengal Art Lounge. The show is a treat for artists and art-lovers alike who will appreciate the dedication and technique behind the artworks.
Acrylic paintings and ink drawings dominate the 41st solo exhibition of the artist, depicting nature and the simple life of the people of rural Bengal. The rivers, vegetation and the people have dominated his canvas all throughout his life. His artistic endeavour is not only aesthetic, but also portrays the marginalised people with an emotional appeal.
The artist’s series of work “After the flood” explains man’s struggle for livelihood. His figurative images portray that people are not assertive and goes on to show individuals busy in everyday activities. The best part about Syed’s work is the fact that he depicts the beauty of nature and the life of people without addressing any issue or posing any question towards society. He simply draws and paints his surrounding to his liking.
“The paintings are abstract and figurative - abstract because they have flat surfaces and figurative because there is a representation of forms in space,” said architect and art critic Shamsul Wares.
The architect also said: “There is a deep spiritual content in the ink renderings exhibited at the Bengal Art Lounge in Gulshan. Syed Jahangir has achieved this by leaving large, empty white space in his drawings, where human figures and homesteads diminish and become ephemeral.” A music-lover, Jahangir obtained his graduation from the Institute of Arts and Crafts under the guidance of Shilpacharya Zainul Abedin. The exhibition will remain open till June 21.