Nostalgia and the flowing life

The charm of watercolour remains. From the splendid masterpieces of Zainul and other stalwarts to the new breed of artists, experimenting and innovating, watercolours enchant us and it would not be wrong to assume that the Bangladeshi art scene nurtures a soft corner for this vibrant medium.

The recently inaugurated watercolour exhibition 'Nostalgia and the flowing life' by Shahanoor Mamun at Galleri Kaya is a testament to the artistic prowess of Mamun.

He uses the romance of watercolour, the lyrical soft touch of his brush to bring to life scenes from a disappearing past. Although the urban setting may look deceivingly contemporary, a closer look reveals clues that pin the images to a time before us. His landscapes reminisce and take us to a setting unfamiliar to most of the young audiences; a past when boats manoeuvred on deep waters of flowing rivers and 'ghats' were a vivid site of activity - social and economic.   

The stray figure seen to battle against a pouring rain, has his back turned against the viewer, as if to reject and shun everything that is contemporary and seek refuge to a space back in time. A group of rickshaws are also seen to ply on city roads, yet something is strikingly similar to this and the riverine images of pastoral Bangladesh. 

Keeping true to his glorification of a time of yore, Mamun recollects an Old Dhaka that was a chaos in order with clustered colonial dwellings, narrow streets and rickshaws moving about on drain drenched streets.

In all his paintings, Mamun projects an image of melancholia, a mourning for the loss of pastoral innocence and urban simplicity. Despite the use of vibrant colour, most of his paintings bear a sadness for what may represent the loss of innocence and our modern living.

This exhibition is showcasing a selection of 46 recent works done in watercolour on paper. 'Nostalgia and the flowing life' will remain open for public viewing from 11 am to 8 pm till 20 October 2015 at Galleri Kaya, House 20, Road 16, Sector 4, Uttara, Dhaka. 

The exhibition is sponsored by "ADN Group".

By Mannan Mashhur Zarif
Photo courtesy Galleri Kaya