New Age | ‘Inter alia’ features young artists at two venues

Six young artists are displaying their artworks in an exhibition titled ‘Inter alia’ under way at Kalakendra and Dwip Gallery in Lalmatia, Dhaka.

The sixteen-day exhibition, curated by Sharmillie Rahman, is featuring artworks of six young contemporary artists, including A Asan, Apu Raj Bongshi, Farhana Ferdausi, Khandkar Nasir Ahammed, Kuntal Barai and Sumon Barman.

The exhibition, which began on May 17, is displaying paintings, drawings, sketches, prints, sculptures, photographs and installations.

‘The artists represent cross-sections of society of varied persuasions, be it religious faith, gender, ethnicity, or heritage–who find themselves at a crossroads where latent emotions, beliefs and rituals as residues from formative years flow like libidinised undercurrents beneath contemporary complexities of urban life practices,’ said Sharmillie Rahman.

‘Six artists representing diverse backgrounds reflect on lived experiences while materialising the interplay between memories, disillusionments, dislocations, desire and persistent efforts to critically locate their stances face to face history’s contemporaneity,’ added Sharmillie Rahman.

A Asan has displayed a series comprising acrylic on canvas and mixed media on paper paintings depicting her experiences of contemporary issues and absurdity of the time.

Apu Rajbongshi, who grew up in a family of fisherfolk, has displayed sculptures inspired by his observations of water.

Farhana Ferdausi has explored the position of women in a patriarchal society in her textile art series titled ‘That Life Is Pomegranate.’

Khandkar Nasir Ahammed has questioned urban society and views life through the lens of sufism in his two series titled ‘Deho bij’ and ‘In Search of A Lost Time’.

Kuntal Barai, who grew up in a village observing farmers, depicts his relationship with soil and chaotic life in Dhaka in his prints and installations series titled ‘Reincarnation’.

Sumon Barman has portrayed his reverence for water through metal, wood and mixed media sculptures.

‘The exhibition is displaying multiple mediums of artworks where artists portrayed their realities, crises and desires. The contemporary art practice challenges and negotiates realism but contextualises the burden of reality,’ said cultural activist Shahman Moishan in a talk which was held on Saturday at the Kalakendra.

‘As this exhibition, curated by one curator, has been hosted by two neighbouring galleries, it will leave a lasting impression on visitors. It is indeed good news that galleries in this area are jointly hosting exhibitions to promote art among people in the city,’ said Kalakendra Foundation curator Wakilur Rahman.

The exhibition will end on Sunday.