The solo painting exhibition titled ‘Journey of the Cosmos’ by artist Masudur Rahman has begun at La Galerie, Alliance Française de Dhaka (AFD), Dhanmondi in the capital.

The inaugural ceremony of this exhibition was held on Friday.

Artist and critic Mostofa Zaman, Dhaka University Professor Emeritus at the Department of English Prof Dr Syed Manzoorul Islam, and eminent artist Monirul Islam were the special guests at the inaugural ceremony.

Masudur Rahman’s journey as an artist is deeply rooted in his exploration of the vastness and emptiness characterising human consciousness. His works traverse the intricate interplay between form and formlessness, presenting a duality that is intrinsic to life itself.

Through ‘Journey of the Cosmos’, Rahman offers us a window into his contemplative and philosophical approach to art, where the cosmic and the earthly converge in a seamless dance of abstraction and embodiment.

He enjoys creating art through drawing, viewing it as a cosmic journey where lines serve as his spaceship. This perspective allows him to explore the mysterious depths of art, which he finds to be a source of joy in life; and he perceives the universe through his artwork, considering the human figure as central to everything.

In Rahman’s own words, “The sense of vastness and space that is always awake in the mind of man gives immense depth to his creation, love, and life. This infinite emptiness is our basic form.”

“I am created from within that void, once in form and once in formlessness. This dual form of shape and formlessness is ‘life,’ and this is how my artwork is an expression of embodiment and abstraction.”

Masudur Rahman hails from Barishal, Bangladesh, and has been residing in Dhaka for the past 25 years. He engages in drawing and painting, favouring mediums like ink, acrylic, and watercolour, drawing inspiration from ancient Indian and Renaissance art; and his educational background includes a Master of Fine Arts and a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Oriental Art from Dhaka University.

The exhibition will be open to all till Saturday, September 14, Monday to Saturday from 3 pm to 9 pm (closed on Sunday).