‘Carving the Self’: Abu Al Naeem explores the psyche through woodcut

The last week of July brought an artistic distraction in the wake of a national tragedy. Seeking a brief moment of emotional respite, I visited Safiuddin Shilpalay on July 26, 2025, as it inaugurated "Carving the Self: Id | Ego | Superego"—the first solo art exhibition of emerging artist Abu Al Naeem. The ceremony was attended by noted professors from the Faculty of Fine Art, University of Dhaka, including Prof Syed Abul Barq Alvi, Prof Dr Azharul Islam Sheikh, Prof Anisuzzaman Anis, and Associate Prof Md Nazir Hossain Khan. Artist and founder of Safiuddin Shilpalay, Ahmed Nazir, was also present.

Abu Al Naeem received the prestigious Shilpaguru Safiuddin Ahmed Award 2024, and the exhibition "Carving the Self: Id | Ego | Superego" has been organised as part of the award to showcase the artworks he produced during his MFA.

Printmaking major Naeem discovered his utmost passion for woodcut and chose to pursue it as his master's degree focus. "Carving the Self" marks his journey of self-discovery and exploration of the complex human mind through the Freudian structure of the psyche: Id, Ego, and Superego. His artistic process begins with the subconscious; unrestrained movements with his medium; representing the id. 

The ego phase lies between discipline and desire, guiding the artist to strike a balance between his tools and his imagination. In the final stage, the superego, his decisions take form and reflect his creative intent. This phase centres on honesty and accountability. The prints on paper, transferred from the carved wooden blocks, serve as windows into the artist's mind and soul, left open for the viewers.

Woodcut is a printmaking process in which a thin block of wood is carved, painted, and pressed onto paper. Multiple layers of paint are applied and pressed one by one to achieve the desired result. The process is time-consuming and requires extreme precision and focus.

Safiuddin Shilpalay is exhibiting over 20 artworks by Abu Al Naeem. The prints are displayed in magnetic frames. Each piece is unique—some are abstract, some semi-abstract, and others representational. The textures, colours, patches, and lines; everything comes together to form a specific mental or physical state, an emotion, or a metaphorical image. Naeem explains, "I don't create to resolve. I create to reveal. My pieces are spaces for confrontation, reflection, and dialogue, not only with myself, but also with the viewer." He also hopes viewers will enter his works and see or feel whether they can relate to them.

Naeem excels not only in the technical aspects of his work but also in exploring the depths of the human soul through his art. His use of colours is bold yet soft, bright yet soothing, and carries a sense of serenity. The prints appear as reflections of the human spirit; rising toward the unknown, revealing everything they hold within: hope, exhaustion, or even quiet destruction. At times, they are compared to waves, caves, or maybe a broken log.

In short, Abu Al Naeem's work reflects his passion, dedication, and love for printmaking, his refined technical skills, and his interest in psychological interpretation. The exhibition at Safiuddin Shilpalay will run until July 30, 2025.