Wakilur Rahman’s ‘Bodyspace Mindscape’ at Dwip Gallery

Bangladeshi artist Wakilur Rahman is a painter, printmaker and sculptor. He completed his BFA from Dhaka Art College and his MFA from Central Academy of Fine Arts Peking, PR of China. He as also received many awards, both locally and internationally. He resided in Germany for several years. With little knowledge of the German language and culture, Rahman roamed around famous European museums, thinking about the legacy of Bangladesh’s art and his identity as an artist in the country. He went to Germany after falling in love with a German girl. But that love gradually waned with the passing of time. His artistic self revolted and he tried to appease it in a foreign setting without his friends and his beloved motherland.

His paintings depict the mystic Bauls of Bangladesh, different forms of pat and sora a well as various other facets of Bangladeshi culture on tempera and oil on his canvas. The painting styles and experiences of eminent Bangladeshi artist Shahid Kabir and renowned Indian artist Ganesh Pyne also inspire the artist. 

Artworks from the exhibition.

With the outcomes of his artistic journey in Germany, Rahman arranged a month-long solo art exhibition, Bodyspace Mindscape, at Dwip Gallery in Lalmatia. Organised by 180 Degrees, the exhibition showcases 23 works completed by Rahman between 1989 and 1991. Through the exhibition, Rahman aims to translate the mysterious feelings of the physique and psyche into his canvas.

Nisar Hossain, Dean, Faculty of Fine Art, University of Dhaka and artist-critic Mustafa Zaman attended the opening of the exhibition as distinguished guests on May 1. It is open to all from 3 pm to 9 pm (except Mondays), until May 31.