Kazi Rakib’s treasures

Kazi Rakib’s exhibition Chronology at Galleri Kaya has revealed to both young and old the artist’s enviable ability to create masterful art in different medium.

The 75 works on display were completed in a 40 year span between 1975-2015.

Before artists and cultural personalities filled the gallery’s halls for the opening on Friday evening at Uttara, the humble artist remembered the time when as a ten-year old, he brought home a small semi-transparent stone he picked up from the beach at Cox’s Bazar.

“It was my first visit there, I used to treasure that stone, look through it. I was heartbroken when I lost it. I understood how water, glass and the shades of transparency fascinated me in an innate way," he told bdnews24.com.

“I never believed that an artist is born only to contribute to one medium ... I do not have the patience to nurture only one and have never caged myself in a singular style.”

Photo: Samin Sababa

That was evident in the sheer diversity of oil, acrylic, water, glass, mirror work, miniatures, pencil, felt pen drawings, collages, wood-block print on display.

Water dominated Rakib’s imagination. It appeared in the form of rain, drops, watery surfaces, in the muddy wetness of ‘After the Rain’ – oil on canvas from 1977.

When asked if the glass etchings reflected his devotion to water, Rakib said, “Yes, glass is the only filter that allows full transparency. It is in stark contrast to the mirror, which I have also used in my work.”

“I never think of the destination when I work, I only concentrate on the way there, but something in me must know where to start and stop.”

Photo: Samin Sababa

Moving on to the series of acrylics he calls ‘Chiffon’ because of their resemblance to the fabric. The heart is gladdened by the silhouette of lovers in the abstract folds of grey-black canvas.

It is called Chiffon-21, since as Rakib says, he is unable to name most of his creations.

“I used to know him just for his miniatures, but I’m realising just how versatile he is ... he works in so many media and inserts subjects into abstract canvases,” said Kamaluddin, a young painter from Cox’s Bazar.

Haroon Fakir, an art collector, had set his eyes on a sepia-like portrait. “I’m drawn to it very much, because it was drawn with tea-liquor.”

Photo: Samin Sababa

Afsana Mimi was an energetic presence. A close friend to both Rakib and his artist wife Masuda Kazi, she said it was the couple who introduced her to the world of art.

“I became very excited when I got to know Rakib Bhai named it Chronology, it means I will get to witness his journey through art at one go,” said the celebrated actress and director.

“I absolutely love his watercolours. Particularly his birds, in fact I own three of these wonderful creations, two solitary watercolour birds, and a bird pair embellished on black glass.”

He is a very controlled artist, said Syed Iqbal, an artist visiting the opening. “He has perfected his minimalist approach, artists who work in miniature can lose balance when they move to larger surfaces, but his forms and colours are masterfully balanced in all the works here.”

Noted media personality Afzal Hossain had been a close to the artist. He graced the opening along with Prof Samarjit Roy Choudhury, who inaugurated the exhibition.

Describing the artist as a friend who helped him return to creating artworks, he said, “He works not to establish himself through his work, but to live in it, I think his viewers will all know it.”

Chronology (1975-2015) was sponsored by ADN Group. bdnews24.com is its online media partner. It will remain open for public viewing daily from 11am to 7:30pm until Jan 30.