Committed to PEOPLE'S RIGHT TO KNOW
Vol. 5 Num 272 Fri. March 04, 2005  
   
Culture


Exhibition
Happy coexistence of man and nature


Man and nature were the central motif of Golam Farouqe Bebul, in his recent exhibition at Chitrak. The paintings were a little bigger than post-cards. The acrylics had the grandeur of oil paintings. They were done in layers and had a cohesive whole. At some places his forms and figures were broken, in order to express the angst of existence. The light and shadow in the muted shades were combined in such a manner that the viewer was not overwhelmed.

Bebul works in oils too, oil pastel, mixed media, and pen and wash. His works tend to be semi-abstract, and dwell on the everyday existence of those who are not so well off. He worked on many paintings at a time. So that every week he had about four paintings in his hand. He has used cartridge paper and sometimes newspaper to paint on.

In Figures against the wall, mixed media, brought in men and women, talking to each other, presented in white and gray ,with interlacing lines. The background was brown and beige. Bearded face, mixed media, brought in the image of a sadhu, done in beige and other muted variations of brown. The background brought in forms from nature like stems and leaves. This combination of man and nature, seen together, was Bebul's recurrent theme.

Another painting, brought in the front of a village home, depicted the door of a thatched house and chairs placed in front of the wall. Even such a mundane subject was made idyllic in the manner of presentation, with the swirls and curls of the contours. Pink and orange flowers brought in sparks of the element of optimism in the vision. Unfinished and Remains brought in the impact of aquatint of prints. These comprised of geometrical shapes like triangles and circles. Moonlit night brought in some old walls, the moon, and suggestions of known faces in the dark in another work. These were in black, gray and white and looked dramatic indeed.

Haunting faces brought in fearful images of one's imagination. Life in the afternoon depicted everyday cane furniture shops with pedestrians walking and gazing in front of them. The effect of sculpture came in The flame, which had the image of the head of Kazi Nazrul Islam, done in black, with a flame lit from within.

Bebul, who is trained in Beijing, has taken part in about 20 group exhibitions at home and overseas.

Picture
Composition-1, Mixed Media