Home Art Project: Young artists showcase their works associated with quarantine

With a motto to inspire young and talented artists, Brihatta Art Foundation launched 'Home Art Project' last year during the Covid-19 shutdown.

As a result of the project and mentorship programme, the art foundation has organised a three-month-long exhibition, showcasing the artworks of 14 artists.

The exhibition titled 'Brihatta Home Art Project 2020' is being held at Bengal Shilpalay in the capital's Dhanmondi.

The participating artists in the exhibition are Abdullah Al Bashir, Aminul Islam Ashik, Ashim Halder Sagor, Dinar Sultana Putul, Jayatu Chakma, Md Anisul Haque, Imtiaj Islam Rasel, Mojahid Musa, Niaz Uddin Ahmmed, Shimul Datta, Rakib Anwar, Shimul Saha, Soma Surovi Jannat and Sumon Wahed.

During the shutdown last year, the artists created these artworks in the comfort of their home and most of the exhibited works portray the sense of anxiety and loneliness associated with the coronavirus quarantine.

The project received a total of 123 applications from all over Bangladesh. Later, a three-member jury selected the final 14 participants based on their project proposals and ideas.

The jury members were artist and sculptor Alak Roy, artist and Dean of the Faculty of Fine Art at University of Dhaka Professor Nisar Hossain, and artist Tayeba Begum Lipi.

Curated by Bengal Arts Programme's chief curator Tanzim Wahab, the exhibition will be open for all till June 12 .

TBS Picks

Among the exhibited artworks, sculptures, and visual art, TBS has highlighted three works by three young artists for art lovers.

"The projection of me is your reflection" by Dinar Sultana Putul

Emerging artist Dinar Sultana does not hold herself back when it comes to experimenting with medium and painting materials. Putul's displayed work at the exhibition showcases her desire to create something innovative which will leave behind her mark.

In her experimental work, Putul used earth, coal, graphite and clay on recycled paper made from newspaper pulp, which gave her work a unique texture and a raw essence of colour.

"I wanted to get back to my root and start from scratch after finishing my studies as I didn't know how to create my own space in the art world. I tried to utilise every single 'every-day life material' in my works from the beginning," Putul told The Business Standard.

She added, "The displayed work also represents the journey of human beings metaphorically."

"Lockdown Diaries" by Md Imtiaz Islam

One of the brilliant works at the exhibition was Lockdown Diaries. Imtiaz's canvas has a mesmerising texture which will overwhelm the visitors.

Lockdown Diaries depict the lives of people of different walks of life during the difficult times of the ongoing pandemic.

The artist said that he created the artwork while being quarantined at home. "The work represents my views on the pandemic and its impact on the people," Imitiaz added.

"Evolution" By Abdullah Al Bashir

This 90cmx120cm acrylic colour painting portrays the surreality and dust-filled environment of Dhaka, which is why gray and gloomy colours dominate the canvas.

There is a ship facing the messy buildings of the city. The cloudy sky and its gray skyline represents an apocalyptic Dhaka while the only bright feature on the canvas is the flying goldfish in the sky.

"My works always try to connect with nature, soil and mother Earth. The displayed artworks represent the destructive state of our beloved city," Abdullah Al Bashir told The Business Standard.

Bashir's other artworks also showcase magical realism.