Md Rafiqul Islam’s second solo print exhibition, Transformation, opened recently at La Galerie, Alliance Française de Dhaka (AFD). The inaugural ceremony was graced by the presence of Professor Abul Barq Alvi from the Department of Printmaking, University of Dhaka, as well as prominent artist Shahid Kabir.

Rafiqul Islam uses the diverse media of printmaking, which includes etching and aquatint, platography, cyanotype and cyanotype with gum-print, to amplify the messages in his artworks. He explores the often troubling and thought-provoking concept of social reality through his images.

‘Peace’ (Cyanotype)

In the artist’s statement, he mentions a slogan, which characterises the exhibition and lends an explanation of his ideology quite simply, “We want peace, not war.” Without having read the title of his exhibition, viewers will still manage to understand that the artist tries to make a point about humanity and its relationship with development and mechanisation. In many of the artworks, stylistic depictions of machines, wheels, nuts, bolts and screws take up large areas of the frames, whereas viewers can only notice the humans who are portrayed as tiny puzzle pieces of a larger picture, insignificant at first glance, but crucial in actuality, if they observe the works closely.

‘Transformation 1’ (Etching and aquatint)

The exhibition also features common subjects in Bangladeshi art such as natural landscapes, boats and rural life. These simple images serve as a reminder of the simplicity that still exists in our world and pulls us back to more humane and natural feelings.

They take us away from the gruesome and often dystopian realities that may result if we become over-dependent on factory-produced objects and development, without paying heed to our environment. The exhibition will be open till October 12.