The 2nd solo art exhibition titled “Inner Speed” by artist Md Ziaur Rahman is underway at La Galerie of Alliance Francaise de Dhaka, Dhanmondi in the Capital.
The opening ceremony of the exhibition was held on Friday on the gallery premises. Professor Mohammad Eunus, Chairman, Art Bangla Foundation, artist Ranjit Das, researcher, publisher and essayist Mofidul Hoque, critic Moinuddin Khaled, Nahid Mahtab, Senior Advocate, Suprime Court of Bangladesh and Muntasir Moin, Founder, Moin Foundation attended the event as the special guests.
Inner Speed evokes the dream of transformation, reflecting the various harmonies and conflicts within society, the good and the bad, that provoke deep contemplation. Like everyone, Ziaur Rahman has experienced moments that leave an indelible mark, and his work represents an effort to transcend these moments. He consistently grapples with his reality through his art, employing diverse mediums such as watercolour, oil, charcoal, acrylic, ink, and cotton. The dynamism of nature particularly moves him, and he often finds inspiration in the movement of bulls and horses. Even the monsoon rains, with their inherent speed, stir his creativity. Drawing these powerful animals uplifts him when he feels low, as their dynamic forms inspire dreams and emotional resilience. Motion, in any form, captivates him, and he seeks to express this inner movement through his use of colours and lines.
Artist Md Ziaur Rahman was born and raised near the banks of the Shitalakshya River and the Narayanganj railway station. His lifelong endeavour has been to understand both people and nature. Ziaur Rahman’s greatest source of inspiration is nature. He takes all kinds of elements from nature with great care and understanding through his artistic perception, and then he arranges those pleasingly in his painting. He completed his graduation in drawing and painting from Narayanganj Fine Arts College and later secured master's in the same field from UODA. Inner Speed marks his second exhibition, following his first solo show titled Nirvadhi at the Chap Gallery in Narayanganj in 2009.
Rahman has profoundly connected his emotional expression to the depiction of horses and bulls. Their varied postures captivate his artistic meditation, revealing his dedication and commitment to his subjects. Horses and bulls symbolise the essence of life, embodying strength and speed. Rahman's focus on these powerful animals suggests a deeper exploration of their life force. A bull's still gaze combines an unsettling mix of pity and fear for the viewer, while Rahman's fascination lies with the fierce bull, symbolising raw power and vitality.
Ziaur Rahman does not idealise the horse as a bloodthirsty creature; he sees it as a symbol of an invincible spirit. He portrays the horse as a free, powerful being not through its natural anatomy but through its essence. The horse, often perceived as a moving force in human consciousness, is depicted by Rahman in a state of liberated fury, breaking free from physical constraints.
The exhibition will remain open to all Monday to Saturday from 3 pm to 9 pm till June 4. Closed on Sunday
