The opening ceremony of Liakat Ali’s 8th solo painting exhibition was held on August 5 at La Galerie, Alliance Francaise de Dhaka.
The exhibition was graced by the presence of His Excellency Ito Naoki, the Japanese Ambassador to Bangladesh, as the chief guest, with Professor Mostafizul Haque taking the role of special guest for the event. Former Speaker of Parliament ASM Feroz MP and Prosecutor Md Sultan Mahmud of International Crimes Tribunal-1 (Bangladesh) also attended the inauguration ceremony. The honored guests expressed their admiration for the artist in their respective speeches.
For all the latest news, follow The Daily Star’s Google News channel.Narayanganj Institute of Fine Arts Director Md Shamsul Alam spoke about his experience with the artist and how much he had inspired him. Liakat Ali completed his BFA in Drawing and Painting from the National Academy of Fine Arts of China, Hangzhou. Since then, he has made his mark through several solo and group exhibitions in Japan, Canada, USA, China, Great Britain and Bangladesh. Ali was greatly inspired by Salvador Dali and Pablo Picasso.
Liakat Ali’s search for harmony resulted in his abstract artworks. The day he drew Mind and Music is when he felt a spark in his soul. According to the artist, “music and rhythm can only be found when they are slightly displaced from realistic approaches; also, the essence of harmony and beauty can best be achieved through spontaneity and speed.” Ali keenly noted that art appreciation and criticism through writing should be encouraged more in Bangladesh.
The walls of the Alliance Francaise gallery were adorned with Liakat Ali’s eye-soothing masterpieces. The main feature of his works is the level of color saturation that soothes the human mind in inexplicable ways. Also, its color application might make one wonder if it is a watercolor or an oil painting. When asked about his favorite work, the artist talked about “Outdoor-1” where he “played mostly with colors and shapes, making it stand out.”
The ‘Abstraction in Abstraction’ series is the epitome of ‘less is more’ as the limited selection of lighter, translucent shades bring depth and thought. “Innumerable Tun” and “Self-Government” also have similar simplicity. “Sensible Pairing” and “The Lord” have an otherworldly aura about them that is positively overwhelming.
“Anchorite”, “Melody of Life”, “Provoke”, “Love and Music”, “Felicity”, “Agony of Love”. “Masmerizing” and “Outdoor-1” contained semi-figurative drawings mixed with shapes from nature, and are decorated with illusions and emotions. “Moment” was more appealing to me because of the color palette and the anemia it caused in me.
Overall, the decomposition of forms, line drawings, and the hierarchy of shadows and spaces in the artworks successfully lifted people’s spirits and the gallery environment. The exhibition is open to all and will run until August 13, 2022.
