Art embodies devotion, persistence, and sincerity.
Engaging in art transcends mere technical mastery; it represents a lasting commitment to honesty, patience, and profound personal expression.
An artist relishes the freedom of their thought process and employs the medium according to their feelings.
Dr. Abu Kalam Shamsuddin exemplifies these values as a painter. Additionally, he serves as a devoted professor in the Drawing and Painting Department at Khulna University.
Shamsuddin's current exhibition showcases artworks created from 2019 to the present year, 2026.
His pieces are executed in acrylic on canvas, as well as pen and charcoal on paper.
He produces numerous doodles, which are characterized as nonspecific, unfocused, or unconscious drawings made while his attention is diverted.
Doodles are simple illustrations that may convey concrete representational meaning or consist of mere shapes.
His drawings are notable for their experimental nature. Shamsuddin's innovative approach to art has garnered him a highly regarded reputation.
In addition to being an adept doodler, he is also a dedicated acrylic painter. Since the late 2010s, he has been an active participant in the Bangladeshi art scene.
He believes that doodling and drawing can enhance an individual's memory by utilizing just enough mental energy to prevent inattentiveness or carelessness.
A highly occupied professional, Shamsuddin engages in sketching either during lengthy phone calls or while attending extended meetings.
He even draws while conversing, doing so without any particular objective.
When Shamsuddin experiences distress or concern, and his creative imagination flourishes, the combination of pen and paper enables him to delve into his visions.
He documents his frustration, longing, joy, and various other experiences on paper, which serves as a reflection of his contemplative state.
His doodles reveal to the world his unique perspective and encapsulate the essence of what he has observed.
It is clear that the artist aims to evolve with a distinct style that could become a signature of his artistic creations.
Shamsuddin's acrylic paintings are regarded as predominantly realistic and semi-realistic, with a focus on self-realization, introspection, and self-observation.
Most of his artworks feature a single figure, which is himself, depicted in various movements.
His expression is typically realistic, showcasing himself in different configurations.
His pieces suggest the human form, often illustrating it in both conventional and unconventional manners.
The primary objective of his work is to emphasize the movements of the human body while also highlighting the inner struggles and torments experienced by the individual.
Occasionally, his artworks concentrate on figural movements and their significant articulations.
Shamsuddin is very meticulous about creating the ground of the canvas. To create the background for his paintings, the artist layers four to five times before making a level satisfactory enough for plunging deep into his subject easily.
Initially, Shamsuddin deliberately constructs the canvas's foundation using sharp, straight, twisted, and spherical lines, before shifting his focus to human figures.
At times, the artist experiments with crisscrossed lines, curves, circles, loops, as well as oval and square shapes—all of which converge to express his visions and thoughts.
These diverse forms also exhibit a spiral appearance. Many of his sketches include intricate details of human faces and emphasize significant aspects of a figure.
Certain forms and compositions add an aesthetic quality to his works. During the exhibition, lively forms and striking compositions offer a kaleidoscopic visualization for art enthusiasts.
Shamsuddin's paintings appear highly dynamic due to the incorporation of various shapes, expressive lines, and vibrant colors.
Shamsuddin focuses on subjects such as intimate relationships, personal perception, and the thought processes that analyze inner pain, struggle, and yearning.
Additionally, he pays attention to the socio-economic and political landscape of the country, which is deeply intertwined with his artistic expressions.
Thus, it is fair to assert that his paintings authentically mirror societal realities.
The backdrop of the majority of his works is filled with charming colors and gentle shades.
Throughout his career, Shamsuddin has concentrated on a very limited theme.
His artistic expression is characterized by figurative expressionism and surrealism; occasionally, he employs realism to depict light and forms.
The interplay of light and shadow is masterfully executed in his artwork, and he meticulously maintains a balance between the figures and the overall composition.
Achieving this equilibrium between these elements is quite challenging. Above all, his paintings are driven by technique and exhibit a significant degree of aesthetic appeal.
Shamsuddin is an artist who has keenly studied various facets of human existence.
The diverse elements of human life, including socio-economic structures and the lifestyles of ordinary people, significantly influence his artistic creations.
These components are carefully depicted in his pieces.
His ongoing quest for innovative themes has helped him establish a solid foundation in the representation of human life.
Shamsuddin is a figurative painter. He portrays the individual world and its mysterious phases through his personal notion, experience and thought process.
It can be easily said his paintings have been recorded through his inner feelings and deep observation of his living place, existence and nostalgia.
He uses soft strokes, which bring an animated hallmark to his works.
His strokes, lines, and sprinkled dots are all simultaneously natural and create a language which is alien to us.
Shamsuddin commenced his journey as a realist painter. However, over time, he has evolved significantly.
As a result, innovative compositions and various forms have been incorporated into his artwork.
He is a painter imbued with emotion, expressing what resonates deeply within him. A hallmark of his style is the recurring figure. The artist's objective is to convey emotions.
His figures lean towards the stylistic rather than the realistic.
Additionally, a notable aspect of Shamsuddin's work is his focus on the interplay between internal and external movement.
Takir Hossain is an art critic and cultural curator.
