Visual artist Rasel Rana has depicted the simple life of rural Bengal through his painting ‘Tepa Putul’ in his solo art exhibition underway at Gallery Bhumi at Lalmatia in the capital.
The exhibition titled Matir Manush is featuring 38 acrylic and mixed media artworks on paper and canvas.
Rana, a lecturer of the Jagannath University fine art department, and graduated from the graphic design department at the University of Dhaka, was inspired by traditional ‘Tepa Putul’ and other folk motifs, including nakshi kantha, alpana and pottery of Bengal.
His paintings depict women clothed in colourful saris, wearing flowers as ornaments with other jewellery.
In the paintings, women have been seen engaging in daily activities such as gardening, caring of pets, chatting with friends, working with others, sewing nakshi kantha, waiting of loved ones, collecting water from river, caring children, travelling by boats and other household works.
He has also portrayed floods in the rainy season, women’s contributions to economy and folk culture, and their intimacies with nature and children through his paintings.
Folk toys made by natural elements including shola, wood, terracotta and rags have also been portrayed in his artworks.
His acrylic on canvas titled Zainul O Matir Manush shows Bangladeshi painter Shilpacharya Zainul Abedin painting two women on canvas while children are looking at the canvas. Â
Acrylic on paper titled Putul Bou shows a newly married woman with a decorative handheld fan in summer.
Acrylic on canvas titled Maa-3 depicts a mother breaking bricks at a construction site while her child is on her back. Â
Another acrylic on canvas titled Chip Nouko shows a couple riding a boat in cloudy weather.
‘Designs and forms of Tepa Putul have inspired me since my childhood in painting. I draw common people of Bangladesh through Tepa Putul and use our local colour to portray them, Rasel Rana said, adding that our traditional toys are disappearing day by day and plastic toys are polluting the environment.
The 12-day exhibition, inaugurated on October 11, will end on Tuesday. Â
