‘Aranyarekha’: An earnest appeal to preserve the Sundarbans
Bhumi Gallery in Lalmatia is currently hosting a five-day group art exhibition titled "Aranyarekha", featuring 12 Bangladeshi artists. The artworks stem from a workshop visit to the Sundarbans. The inauguration ceremony was graced by distinguished personalities, including artist Prof Mohammad Eunus as chief guest and Prof Dr Md Anwarul Islam, Chief Executive of WildTeam Conservation Biology Center. Bird specialist Inam Al Haque presided over the event.
Adyapanto, a collective of artists formed in 2019, comprises 12 members who recently participated in an art camp in the Sundarbans, sponsored by Dr Md Anwarul Islam and Inam Al Haque. Inspired by the beauty of the cherished mangrove forest, the artists created captivating works that now adorn the walls of Bhumi Gallery.
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The large, translucent watercolour paintings of the Sundarbans that soothe both heart and eyes are by Md Robiul Islam. Farzana Rahman Bobby has chosen to create monotype prints; delicate compositions of lines inspired by the roots of mangrove trees, some dark, others bright and joyous. Standing out among the colourful pieces is Upoma Das Trina's striking blue cyanotype photo manipulation, depicting herons, tall trees, boats, and waterbodies. They appear as though lifted straight from Hans Andersen's fairy tales.
Shakti Noman created wooden sculptures depicting the aerial roots of the Sundari tree (Heritiera fomes), alongside detailed acrylic paintings capturing both sides of a canal. Monjur Rashid painted the splendid birds of the Sundarbans, while Ishrat Jahan portrayed warm-toned leaves with a cheerful vibrancy. Kanak Aditya's minimalistic black-and-white painting stood out from the rest.
Zemrina Haque painted small yet detailed, vibrant landscapes. Mamun Hossain, however, approached the beauty of the Sundarbans in a non-photographic manner, using watercolour splatters and precise, crisp ink lines to create marvellous works born of his unique imagination.
The loving couple Morsena Rahman Rupa and Md Zahid Hossain filled their canvases with deep blue hues that felt like a serotonin boost; especially Rupa's depiction of a baby Kaani Bawk (Indian Pond Heron).
All the precious and majestic Royal Bengal Tigers on display belong to Nargis Akter Punam. She explained that our tigers are like cacti, which she also painted; we love our big, wild, royal cats and admire them, yet we cannot go near them. Their numbers continue to dwindle due to our negligence and failure in wildlife preservation.
"Aranyarekha", which runs from August 16 to 22, not only showcases the beauty of our national treasure but also raises awareness about preserving our largest expanse of greenery. For a tropical country like ours, forests are vital in maintaining a favourable climate, particularly in safeguarding coastal areas from flooding. May we protect the flora and fauna of our beloved mangrove forest.
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