‘Reality of the Subconscious Mind’ explores environmental concerns through surrealism
For over a century now, global warming has become an important issue to address, altering the Earth’s atmosphere and resulting in dangerous changes in the environment. To highlight these phenomena, artist Zakia Khan Chandana delved into extensive research. Combining her knowledge of environmental issues with her exquisite surrealist art style, she has created marvelous paintings that not only bewitch the mind but also enrich the soul.
La Galerie of Alliance Française de Dhaka (AFD) inaugurated the third solo art exhibition of surrealist artist Zakia Khan Chandana, titled “Reality of the Subconscious Mind”, on July 3. Eminent Bangladeshi-Spanish artist Monirul Islam and Professor Dr Md Azharul Islam Sheikh, Dean of the Faculty of Fine Arts at the University of Dhaka (DU), attended the ceremony as special guests. Also present at the event was AFD Director François Chambraud.
In his speech, Professor Azharul spoke about Surrealism. Artist Monirul called Zakia an honest painter, as her works are not only abstract, but they also contain individual elements that are highly detailed, as if they had their own different dimensions. François expressed his admiration for Zakia’s art, as he has an affinity for the surrealist style. He said that Zakia is heavily inspired by the legendary painter Salvador Dalí, but she has developed her own creative language, and all her pieces have a certain signature element—the light, either from the sky or from a different yet distinguished source.
Zakia Khan Chandana completed her BFA and MFA in Drawing and Painting with the highest distinction from the Faculty of Fine Arts, DU. With several awards and workshops to her name, she held her first solo exhibition at Zainul Gallery, Dhaka, and her second solo exhibition in Toronto, Canada.
Large canvases with brilliant hues are currently adorning the walls of AFD. Zakia’s paintings bring together nature, human figures, fragmented landscapes, and symbolic imagery to reflect her profound philosophy. She invites visitors into an enigmatic world of her subconscious mind. The trees in her paintings spread their roots across an unknown topography. Sometimes there are rocks; sometimes the ground is covered with grass. All of a sudden, there is an orb suspended in mid-air, while a glass-like surface separates two subjects in a painting. Dynamic structures with planes and other geometric forms also exist in perfect harmony.
Zakia said, “Nature serves as the central inspiration for my paintings, through which I explore themes of survival and transformation. The various forms and fragmented landscapes I create attempt to portray the tension between creation and destruction. My works function as visual metaphors for the Earth’s constant evolution, encouraging viewers to reflect on change. Through the characteristic textures and brushstrokes of surrealist art, I invite audiences to contemplate the cycles of life and renewal.”
In short, Zakia’s paintings are powerful, assertive, skillful, dramatic, and profound. AFD will run this exhibition until July 8, daily from 3 pm to 9 pm.
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