The topographic beauty of Bangladesh owes a debt to its waterbodies. Being a delta embellished with rivers, natural canals, wetlands, lakes, swamps, ponds, and fountains that flow into the Bay of Bengal in the south, the beauty of our land knows no bounds. The spirit of water flows through the veins of Bangladeshi people and the survival of the entire nation revolves around the waterbodies. Thus, our way of life, livelihood, and pretty much everything is centred around water. These ever-familiar images of rural Bangladesh and its people are powerfully portrayed on artist Zannat Keya's canvases.

The inauguration of "Wave-2", Zannat Keya's second solo visual art exhibition, took place at Safiuddin Shilpalay in Dhanmondi on January 24. The ceremony was attended by the chairperson of the Art Bangla Foundation, Professor Mohammad Eunus as the chief guest alongside other prominent artists. Professor Md Azharul Islam Sheikh, dean of the Fine Arts Institute at Dhaka University was also present as a guest. 

Zannat Keya is a modern impressionist artist. She completed her BFA and MFA from the Department of Oriental Art at the University of Dhaka and is currently an instructor at the Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy. She explores various subjects, angles, techniques, and mediums of visual art. For "Wave-2", the artist has mostly used acrylic paints and mixed media on canvases, and plastic wood boards, incorporating her burning techniques to create magical effects. 

Keya grew up in the rural surrounding of Netrakona, a district of Bangladesh known for its abundance of canals, 'haors' (wetland ecosystems or back swamps of turbulent water) 'beels' (static water wetlands), and diverse topography. Thus, water, boats, fishing, harvest seasons, the sky meeting the water on the horizon, marsh wetlands, rural people and their livelihoods, are etched into her mind and soul. The artist has explained that it is Mother Nature herself who decides what Keya should draw and paint. And she cannot allow herself to say 'no' to this calling.

The snow white walls of Safiuddin Shilpalay lit with cool luminaires are now exhibiting the artworks of Zannat Keya. As I entered, three enormous paintings greeted me with their magnificence. Wonder-struck, I took a few minutes to comprehend the fact that they were paintings and not real photographs. These three titled "Whispers of Solitude", "Eternal Echoes", and "Immersing in Consciousness" are undoubtedly some of the best paintings I have ever laid my eyes upon. 

Keya's "Khawna Jaal" is also as realistic as a photo, depicting a fisherman at work. The comparatively smaller paintings display the conventional rural scenes of our country. These are not hyper-realistic, rather, devoid of perfection, and have a dream-like appearance, making them charming examples of impressionistic art. Her use of hues is not only eye-soothing but also positively tranquillising. "Soil", the painting of a woman wearing her dark hair down with a red water lily adorning it, won over my heart.

Zannat Keya's artistic mastery not only demonstrates her dedication to art, but also her attachment to her cultural roots, her memories, her emotional expressions, and her profound capacity to connect the spectators to her world, the tangible with the intangible. 

The "Wave-2" exhibition will run at Safiuddin Shilpalay until January 30.

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