Practising art in the city
The best place to paint a gorgeous, amber sunrise in Dhaka is definitely our Ramna Park and on most Saturdays, you will see students of Dhaka Water Colour Academy, a group for budding artists, young and old, trying to capture that exact moment in time through their work.
Kamalapur Railway Station, any old tea stall, Ramna Park -- these are the places to capture the essence of city life or Dhaka in general for Shahanoor Mamun, a celebrated watercolourist and founder of Dhaka Water Colour Academy, and his students. On top of that, outdoor art activities are not much common in Dhaka. We hardly see any groups of artists painting and studying the outdoors in the metropolis. The academy's group outings allow Dhakaiites to see the city in an artistic light.
After graduating from university, Shahanoor Mamun missed the comradery of his hall life, a time when he went outdoors to practice drawing with juniors. This interaction with young minds gave him immense pleasure and he thought of engaging with the youth, besides doing studio work.
His wife Zannatun Shahanoor Rinti suggested taking students whenever he ventured outdoors to work on his projects, and that is how Dhaka Water Colour Academy came into being in 2019.
The school applies a master-and-disciple format teaching method where they all venture outdoors and also work inside the studio. The course fee is Tk 1,500. It is a yearlong course and Mamun starts with basic line drawing and ends up teaching watercolour, acrylic, oil, and charcoal works.
"Taking up painting seriously at the age of 45 turned out to be an invigorating and enriching experience. Firstly, it is a creative outlet for me. Painting allows me to express myself in a unique manner and provides an outlet for any pent-up emotions or thoughts. Also, it is a great stress reliever. Immersing in painting can be a fantastic way to unwind after a long day or week," expresses Paula Aziz, a student of Dhaka Water Colour Academy.
The pupils at the academy are from different backgrounds -- some are university students, some hail from the madrasa background, some are job holders; there are even retirees.
Paula Aziz further elaborates, "Above all, it is a chance to challenge myself when I thought I have reached my mid-life and I may have to go slow. Instead, I started to learn something. Allowing myself to set goals and do things I have never done before. Finally, I am making new friends and knowing people outside of my circle.
"I chose Mamun as a mentor because I am a fan of his work. I have been following him for many years now. Suddenly, I saw a workshop and got enrolled just like that. Slowly I got involved in his group and became a mentee. He is great at explaining with patience. The academy is a fun place to learn painting and upskilling."
Mamun is trying to build a community where the new will get a chance at mingling with professional artists. The academy invites renowned artists to join workshops and outdoor classes.
"These amateurs will never get a chance to see and work beside professional artists like Kamaluddin or Hashem Khan. So, I plan my workshops accordingly to give the students as much exposure as possible," Mamun relates.
Recently, Shahanoor Mamun is preparing for an exhibition. "I am pulled towards the nightscape now and am testing with colours. This time I am trying to take my watercolours to a different medium and height. I want to explore the characteristics of watercolour to the fullest and even experiment a bit with mixed media at times keeping my signature colour palate and at times also trying to break it," the artist says.
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