Historical theme: Bengali artist’s work on display at Nomad
An exhibition featuring artworks by the eminent Bengali artist and calligrapher Abdus Shakoor will open up at the Nomad Art Gallery today (Saturday).
Shakoor’s work focuses on ancestral and historical themes, following the folk tradition. He has illustrated his works with folk motifs. His style has been compared with European artist such as Piet Mondrian and Paul Klee.
“I personally find his work very thought-provoking. It gives a fantastic reflection of peaceful rustic scenes as well as some pieces with a modern touch,” said Nageen Hyat, the gallery curator.
A lively mix of ink drawings and water colour paintings, the artworks on display comprise some freestyle, loose illustrations with the solid South Asian colours bleeding out of geometric or free-flowing borderlines in some places.
Some solid blocks of colour and geometric shapes are reminiscent of cave art. The treatment of lines is simple and untrained in nature, giving an illustrative expression to the paintings, as a whole.
While his palate and style are predominantly traditional, he includes some modern themes which can border on the naïve and minimalist. Some of the artworks also feature poetry in Hindi and other texts.
Shakoor is widely recognised for his folk motifs and ballads. His work is peculiar for its technical and material aspects and brings out his attention to detail. Through his artwork, he has delved into folk motifs and ancient ballads.
Traditional Bengali folk ballads of Mymensingh – the famous Mahua and Malua love stories, Nakshi Kanthar Maath, Gazir Patam Manasha Pata are embedded in his artworks. He also uses birds such as peacocks and parrots and animal figures such as elephants, bulls, dogs, tigers, birds, serpents and reptiles – all as pleasant and decorative motifs.
But human relationship is at the heart of his canvas. Emotions and feelings of hope, disappointment, love and sacrifice of rural people are brilliantly crafted by Shakoor.
In his own words, he has always tried to portray his Bengali identity and broadly Asian identity through his compositions. He seeks to present Bengali culture and language as his subjects.
His paintings are not mere illustrations of traditional ballads. He uses calligraphy stylistically on his canvas, which sometimes includes figures of humans along with birds and animals. Each work depicts a complete story with interwoven details of the national identity.
Shakoor began his painting career in 1978, when he was studying in Baroda University in India. After completing a degree in painting, Shakoor
joined the Institute of Fine Arts in Dhaka in 1980. As a student of fine arts, he had focused on painting, tapestry, batik and serigraph. At the painting at the department of fine arts, Chittagong University, he started to illustrate Bengali heritage, culture and myths.
He has won various national and international awards including the Excellent Award in Japan, National Award in Dhaka and a UNESCO Fellowship in Italy and is currently the chairman of the craft department in the Faculty of Fine Arts at Dhaka University.
The current exhibition will continue at the gallery till November 23.
Published in The Express Tribune, November 1st, 2014.