'Selective works of 25 years'
Published: 12:00 AM, 03 November 2016
Maksudul's fantasy in painting
A visitor looks at the paintings of Maksudul Ahsan exhibited at National Art Gallery of BSA. The exhibition titled 'Selective works of 25 years' will continue till November 5. -Tarik Sajib
Painter Maksudul Ahsan grew up in a conservative society in Chandpur, a trading centre situated at the junction of the famous Bengal rivers- Meghna and Padma, rich in natural beauty, flora and fauna. His family was business-oriented but always appreciated the dwelling into the world of art and literature. Thus, his notions of social activism and love of art blended together, gradually carving his ambition to become an artist. His thought of political nuisance and an urge to break free made him to abstractly portray that fantasy into his every art.
Such kinds of arts are currently on display at the National Art Gallery of Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy where painter Maksudul Ahsan is exhibiting a selection of his works done over the past 25 years. This is his 12th solo exhibition. Titled 'Selective Works of 25 Years,' the exhibition features a total of 46 works done in diverse mediums covering diverse aspects. The works, divided into seven series, are quite distinct from one other in terms of medium and style. Above all, figures dominate Maksudul's canvasses while abstraction marks some of the paintings.
.jpg)
There is immense charm in working in the ambit of figurative art picking and projecting images from real life; of people and places plus the civilizational and cultural and cultural trapping of life and the people. These three vantage points of art coalescing in an artistic sensibility provide the requisite elixir to the contemporary art world, elixir that takes the baton to Maksudul Ahsan. His lines are strong and with strong lines, the inner depth of a theme becomes more meaningful. The inner strength of Maksudul Ahsan lies in his involvement with the theme he worked on. It is the depth of the theme which engages and brings out the best in Maksudul Ahsan as a sensitive artist.
.jpg)
For example, if he efforts to create a series titled 'Mother' where a figure like mother Teresa is shown in a black background, that might say that like Mother Teresa who was a torch into the dark civilization, the society needs women as torch, as a light. Or, if we talk about his 'Khapa' series, his bull in a matador painting might well signify the cruel nature of human in a political system. Or his images of the tormented men and women that tell their own agonizing tale. The exhibition, which began on October 28, will remain open for the public until November 5.
Such kinds of arts are currently on display at the National Art Gallery of Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy where painter Maksudul Ahsan is exhibiting a selection of his works done over the past 25 years. This is his 12th solo exhibition. Titled 'Selective Works of 25 Years,' the exhibition features a total of 46 works done in diverse mediums covering diverse aspects. The works, divided into seven series, are quite distinct from one other in terms of medium and style. Above all, figures dominate Maksudul's canvasses while abstraction marks some of the paintings.
There is immense charm in working in the ambit of figurative art picking and projecting images from real life; of people and places plus the civilizational and cultural and cultural trapping of life and the people. These three vantage points of art coalescing in an artistic sensibility provide the requisite elixir to the contemporary art world, elixir that takes the baton to Maksudul Ahsan. His lines are strong and with strong lines, the inner depth of a theme becomes more meaningful. The inner strength of Maksudul Ahsan lies in his involvement with the theme he worked on. It is the depth of the theme which engages and brings out the best in Maksudul Ahsan as a sensitive artist.
For example, if he efforts to create a series titled 'Mother' where a figure like mother Teresa is shown in a black background, that might say that like Mother Teresa who was a torch into the dark civilization, the society needs women as torch, as a light. Or, if we talk about his 'Khapa' series, his bull in a matador painting might well signify the cruel nature of human in a political system. Or his images of the tormented men and women that tell their own agonizing tale. The exhibition, which began on October 28, will remain open for the public until November 5.
