Gulshan Hossain's artistic sensitivity

Well-known visual artist Gulshan Hossain has developed a style of abstraction by exploring variations with different materials and techniques.

She has 16 solo exhibitions in UK, Belgium, India and Bangladesh to her credit, and has participated in numerous group shows in Egypt, USA, Germany, Switzerland, Japan, UK, UAE, Iran, Sri Lanka and Canada.

Gulshan depicts nature and its elements, the adverse consequences on our earth due to greenhouse effects, ecological imbalance and environment pollution.

She has a sensitive heart both as an artist and as a citizen, and reveals her empathy for the victims, especially women. She has portrayed the burnt, pale and painful faces of women workers who became victims of the Tazrin Garments tragedy.

The Liberation War is also a favourite subject of the artist. She showcased a rape victim of 1971 in one of her shows held in UK.

“I have done several painting-based large installations. I use light in the installations to augment them. The pain of suffering women or the faces of victims haunt me and I try to depict them true to my imagination and experiences,” the artist asserts.     

The artist has a deep affinity with nature and the seasons of Bangladesh. Monsoon and its fresh beauty, the shades and colours of spring, Boishakh and its intense beauty recurrently appear on her canvas.

“I compare the advent of Boishakh with the powerful Devi Durga. The visage of enduring womanhood comes to my mind while visualizing Boishakh,” said the artist.

How does she celebrate Pohela Boishakh? The artist says, “I first focus on my family, pay my respects to my mother, wear a new saree and have fried hilsha with kedgeree.

Then I go to my workplace UODA, meet colleagues and students. Later, I visit Chhayanaut's borshoboron programme at Ramna Botomul and Charukala's Mongol Shobhajatra, where I have the opportunity to meet fellow artists.

In the evening, I visit my friends. This time I plan on going to Gallery Twenty One where a Boishakhi baul song performance will be held in the evening.”

A multi-award winner, including, Grand  Award at the 16th  Asian Art Biennial, Bangladesh; Bengal Foundation Award at the 20th National Art Exhibition, Bangladesh and more, Gulshan Hossain is an Assistant Professor of MFA Department of Painting at UODA. She is also a member of International Miniature Art Society of Florida, USA.