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• DhakaCourier Vol 29 Issue 48 Dated 14 June 2013
• From the Editor: A time for irreverence
• ‘Our’ man from Iran
• Feeling the pulse of the nation

Asiatic Gallery of Fine Arts in Nimtali, Dhaka has organised a solo tapestry exhibition, featuring the works of Tajul Islam. The exhibition opened on September 7.

Muhammad Aziz Khan, chairman of Summit Group of Companies, inaugurated the exhibition as chief guest. Professor Nazrul Islam, former chairman of UGC (University Grants Commission) was present as special guest. Professor Hamiduzzaman Khan, director of Asiatic Gallery of Fine Arts, presided over the programme.

Tajul has been inspired by his guru Rashid Chowdhury, and has established his individual style — particularly in terms of patterns and colour compositions. Luminous colours, geometric compositions, floral imagery and organic forms are recurring features in his tapestries.

Tajul started with assisting Rashid Chowdhury when the latter returned from France (after finishing his higher education). The artist continued assisting his guru till 1979. At present, Tajul is one of the very few who work in this elegant, expensive and difficult medium. He has been working in this medium for over 45 years. Though the medium is quite expensive and time consuming, he has been able to overcome these barriers with his commitment.

At the exhibition, a number of his tapestries showcase bold shades such as coffee, russet, vermilion red, blue, black and crimson. Tajul is deeply inspired by nature and its elements — plants and trees of several sizes, blossoming flowers and thick bushes. Some of his tapestries feature open spaces. Most of his tapestries depict surrealistic images where unfamiliar forms and blurred compositions as well as human figures merge together.

The artist has also created many waves, semi-waves, curves, semi-curves, semi-circles and fragments where one can find rhythms. His tapestries are plentiful with diverse abstract images. But this abstraction does not obstruct the viewers’ perception of the artist’s feelings and thoughts.

“I first make a layout; next a tracing enlarges that for the final pattern. When I concentrate on layout, varied organic, familiar and unfamiliar shapes (from nature) come to my mind. Lastly, I select the final one,” said the artist.

As a naturist, Tajul tries to present harmony of colours in his works with great keenness. At the exhibition, he has used cheerful colours in the centre of the tapestry and dark shades like black and ash-brown in the backdrop to create a contrast. The artist has also used sapphire, cobalt blue, off-white, emerald green and brown for the background. Some of his works have a gray background and are in red, blue and black shades.

Tajul’s forte is to search for fresh themes and present them with a novel approach. This inclination has helped him to hold his position at the forefront of the Bangladeshi art scenario.

The exhibition will continue till September 21.

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