Visual artist Malay Bala depicts Buddha, nature and women in his third solo exhibition titled Seeking Sacred Beauty: The Devotional Art of Malay Bala’ under way at Alliance Française de Dhaka in the capital.
An 11-day exhibition curated by Mikhail Idris showcasing 80 traditional Bengali paintings in four series namely Shakuntala, Sacred Women, Sacred Nature and religion.
The event is dedicated to the eminent wood sculptor, freedom fighter and Ekushey Padak recipient Ferdousi Priyabhashini which was inaugurated on October 18.
‘I paint to seek, meditate upon and become closer to God. My heart senses the divine within the sacred myths, spiritual masters, nature, and divine grace of women that I strive to paint,’ said Malay Bala who employs traditional watercolor, gouache, tempura and wash technique. Â
His series Shakuntala, a fictional character, heroine of the Sanskrit drama Abhijnanashakuntala written by the 5th-century Indian poet Kalidasa features her life in a forest hermitage.
The series titled religion depicts mostly the life and portrait of Gautama Buddha while a painting portrays Radha and Krishna.
His both series sacred women and sacred nature merged with each other on the theme- organic. Landscape, portrait and figures all highlighted the organic shapes, colors and mysterious texture. Â
Mikhail Idris said that as an artist devoted to indigenous Bengali Art principles, content, styles and natural materials, the artwork remarkably reflects both Ananda Coomaraswamy’s Sacred Art ideals and Rabindranath Tagore’s swadeshi spirit.
The exhibition also comprises traditional music and dance performance at the venue every evening which attract a huge audience.
The exhibition will open until October 28.