Glancing into feminine curvaceous splendor and disadvantaged communityJamal Ahmed's solo show opens tomorrow at Galleri Kaya |
![]() Buriganga River-1 Charcoal and pastel on paper & Pigeons -3 Charcoal and pastel on paper & Buriganga River-2 Charcoal and pastel on paper ![]() Self-portrait by Jamal Ahmed Charcoal and pastel on paper After graduation from the Institute of Fine Arts (presently the Faculty of Fine Arts, University of Dhaka), he developed himself by taking higher education from Poland and Japan. The education assisted him to comprehend and plunge deep into his subjects and explore novelty of topics. The current exhibition is quite unique because Jamal has chiefly worked with charcoal medium and sometimes soft pastel on paper and canvas. It is very noticeable that the painter has massively used charcoal on canvas that is undoubtedly complicated to handle and can bring a permanent imprint on canvas. Spraying of fixative has to be adequate enough to keep the charcoal a bright and animated look. Jamal likes to experiment with bold lines and he has a great ability to bring an appealing view to his works where one can get a taste of pure realism. ![]() Horses Charcoal and pastel on paper At the exposition, Jamal has been successfully projecting nubile women in all their voluptuous beauty, gypsy women, banks of Buriganga River with semi-urban sights and more. Pigeons and horses are also prominent in some of his works. The painter also rose to prominence for limning different types of horses. At the exhibition, some of his horses have its front hoofs in the air. He has meticulously drawn the front side of the horse which is in gray and black. His spontaneous lines capture the speed, power and energy of the vigorous animal. They have become symbolic of the energy, aggression and power of modern times and of his own untamed youthful spirit and a sense of liberty. ![]() Strom Charcoal and pastel on paper Jamal has acquired an enigmatic quality in his paintings that works on many levels from the visual to the subconscious. Subject matter includes depictions of the mind-boggling female figure and people of all ages and situations including old men and women from poorer social classes. The figures are superbly drawn and their facial expressions carry both jovial and gloomy mood. ![]() Grandmother Charcoal and pastel on paper Some of Jamal's figural compositions convey a great sense of rapture. Many of his shadowy drawings are lyrical and spontaneous. His sketches are powerful in their tone of lines and serenity. The charcoal sketches, in particular, are very lively and thought provoking. At times, his figures look poignant and help us think about their experiences. His intimate study of human beings and nature allows him to get to the core of his theme. The artist muses to display their everyday woes and bliss on his canvas. Romance has also been primarily focused in a number of artworks in the current exhibition. Pigeons in couples and in cuddling positions are presented as symbols of lasting love. ![]() In anticipation Charcoal and pastel on paper Tranquility is one of the vital components in Jamal's works. Smoothness is another noticeable feature in his works and his paintings are easily comprehensible because of the subject's simplicity, malleable ground and subdued tone. At the ongoing exhibition, after observing Jamal's works critically, one gets the feeling that some of his charcoals carry a great range of tonalities -- soft and seemingly transparent. The objects of his works are in a melancholic mood, which has been repetitively focused on. |