Sushanta Adhikari's 'Banalata' at BSK

Professor Dr Sushanta Kumar Adhikari is an award-winning artist, who has a great passion for depicting female faces following oriental wash painting technique; be it watercolour or wash tempera. What is conspicuous in his portrayal of paintings is that he mingles traditional elements with contemporary ones; thus enriching the trend of oriental art in Bangladesh. Apart from feminine grace, the painter portrays exceedingly modern themes on canvas where oriental women take on the realm of global art trend.

Sushanta's latest solo exhibition titled Banalata is now underway at the gallery of Bishwo Shahitto Kendro (BSK). He depicted multifarious aspects of Banatala, the famous poetic character of modern Bengali poet Jibanananda Das. The artist masterfully completed the displayed paintings on varied techniques like egg tempera, watercolour, reverse painting, glass painting and more. It is rather his boldness to use brushes of Mughal miniature painting to depict pretty large artworks with subtle lines. He tried to capture the taste and essence of Mughal miniature painting is his art blended with oriental wash and egg tempera.  

Sushanta has showcased the presence of Banalata in several interesting ways, which are extremely modern in approach; like in one of his works where Banalata, with her classmates is portraying a sculpture of Michael Angelo in a drawing class. While in another one she is showing how Pablo Picasso took oriental themes for his creative venture. In another piece, Banatala is showing her child the Chinese and Japanese style paintings while the heroine of Jibanananda with others is attending an art exhibition on Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. Apart from these modern themes the artist has displayed several santhal women and feminine beauty of Varendra region.

Distinguished writer Professor Dr Syed Azizul Huq, actor-media personality Shampa Reza and curator of the show Zahid Mustafa were among others to inaugurate the exhibition on July 9. The show, opening from 2pm to 9pm daily, will conclude on July 15.