On May 31, 2024, Plat-forms hosted an exceptional event, Canvas Therapy: Art & Music, at Lamda, Gulshan Club Limited. As part of the Dhaka Flow Food & Wellness Festival, this unique workshop attracted more than 60 participants eager to explore the therapeutic blend of art and music.
A Therapeutic Blend of Art and Music :
Under the guidance of renowned art facilitator Fareha Zeba, participants engaged in a creative journey designed to relieve stress and foster deeper connections. The workshop provided a tranquil space where the soothing melodies of music complemented the creative process of painting, allowing participants to express their emotions freely and connect on a deeper level.
Comprehensive Art Materials
To ensure a seamless creative experience, Plat-forms provided all necessary art materials, including paper, watercolors, brushes, and color plates. This thoughtful provision allowed participants of all skill levels to fully immerse themselves in the therapeutic process without any logistical concerns.
Spotlight on Renowned Bangladeshi Artists
In addition to the workshop, Plat-forms featured a stall promoting ten renowned Bangladeshi artists, such as Kanak Chanpa Chakma, Mohammad Eunus, Nisar Hossain, and Ahmed Shamsuddoha, Maksuda Iqbal Nipa, Auntora Mehrukh Azad, M F I Mazumder Shakil. This stall showcased the rich cultural heritage and artistic talent of Bangladesh, drawing significant attention from festival attendees.
A Transformative Experience
Canvas Therapy: Art & Music was more than just a workshop; it was a transformative experience. The combination of art and music provided a holistic approach to therapy, promoting mental well-being, reducing stress, and fostering a sense of community among participants. The event was a testament to the healing power of creativity and the profound impact of art on emotional well-being.
Looking Forward
Plat-forms' successful Canvas Therapy workshop has set a precedent for future events that blend creativity with therapeutic practices. The overwhelming positive response from participants highlights the need for more such initiatives that promote mental health and well-being through art.
Conclusion
Canvas Therapy: Art & Music by Plat-forms was a highlight of the Dhaka Flow Food & Wellness Festival, offering participants a unique and enriching experience. With over 60 participants and a stall showcasing the works of renowned Bangladeshi artists, the event successfully celebrated the fusion of art and music as a powerful tool for emotional expression and connection.
In the heart of a global pandemic, when the world was grappling with unprecedented challenges, creativity found a way to flourish. The evocative art exhibition, "কাল যদি: শিল্পী এবং কবির কথোপকথন," stands as a testament to the resilience and boundless spirit of human creativity. Officially opened on July 14th, this unique exhibition is an artistic conversation between two mediums, where Shakoor Shah’s paintings and Bimol Guha’s poetry complement and enhance each other, creating a holistic sensory experience for the audience.
A Dialogue Between Art and Poetry
"কাল যদি" invites viewers to explore the interconnectedness of visual and literary art, revealing how each form can deepen our understanding and appreciation of the other. This exhibition provides a poignant reflection on the pandemic experience and serves as a creative record of this challenging time, capturing the emotional and psychological landscape of a world in crisis. Through the lenses of art and poetry, Shakoor Shah and Bimol Guha offer a narrative of resilience and hope, encouraging viewers to contemplate their own experiences and the myriad possibilities that the future holds.
Poetry from the Hospital Bed: Bimal Guha’s Lyrical Journey
Poet Bimol Guha’s battle with the coronavirus inspired profound poetry, exploring vulnerability, resilience, and life's fragility. His emotionally rich verses counterpoint Shakoor’s visual narratives, capturing the intimate struggles of the pandemic. Guha's work resonates with the shared human experience of isolation, fear, and hope, offering a deeply personal yet universally relatable perspective.
Art in Isolation: Shakoor Shah’s Visual Narratives
Meanwhile, confined to his home during the COVID-19 lockdown, Shakoor Shah turned his solitude into a canvas of vibrant expressions. Inspired by Bimol Guha's poems, his colorful paintings reflect the beauty, despair, hope, and introspection of life during isolation. Shah’s visual art captures the essence of the pandemic experience, portraying a journey from despair to hope, and illustrating the transformative power of creativity in times of crisis.
A Celebration of Human Spirit
"কাল যদি" celebrates the resilience of the human spirit and the transformative power of art and poetry. This exhibition invites viewers to contemplate their own experiences and the possibilities that the future holds. Rayana Hossain, Founder of Plat-forms, describes the exhibition as more than an artistic showcase; it is a reflection on the pandemic experience, capturing the emotional and psychological landscape of a world in crisis. Through their works, Shakoor Shah and Bimol Guha offer a narrative of hope and renewal, encouraging viewers to explore the interconnectedness of creativity and human resilience.
Experience "কাল যদি"
"কাল যদি" to experience the profound synergy of 14 artworks by Shakoor Shah and 14 poems by Bimol Guha, enhanced by an immersive audiovisual experience. Witness how creativity can thrive even in the most challenging times. This exhibition promises to inspire and provoke thought, leaving a lasting impression on all who attend.
Platforms Gallery showcases emerging Bangladeshi talent with its debut at Tokyo International Art Fair.
With a visionary mission to elevate Bangladeshi art to the global stage, Platforms Gallery is gearing up for its inaugural appearance at the prestigious Tokyo International Art Fair, set to take place on November 29 and 30. The works of three Bangladeshi artists—Auntora Mehrukh Azad, Fakhrul Islam Mazumder Shakil, and Tariqul Islam Herok—will be showcased at this global event.
Art patron and curator Rayana Hossain, founder and managing director of ISHO and Platforms, is committed to amplifying the voices of emerging Bangladeshi artists. Beyond hosting a plethora of artworks on their online platform, Rayana is dedicated to instilling professionalism in the Bangladeshi art industry by signing talented artists and creating new opportunities.
“Internationally, art and creative activities follow a professional structure, which we often lack here,” she remarked. “When I compare emerging global artists to ours, I see equal standards and potential in their works. However, the key difference is exposure. Together, Bangladeshis at home and abroad can help create a global voice for our art.”
Rayana envisions global recognition for Bangladeshi artists. “I hope our artists will gain exposure and appreciation worldwide and establish a standard for Bangladeshi art globally,” she said. “We are also working to create more opportunities beyond art fairs, such as international residency programs and biennales. These efforts will allow us to collaborate with more artists and discover unique Bangladeshi talents.”
On future projects, Rayana shared, “We have an exciting pipeline of artistic ventures, including solo exhibitions and multidisciplinary projects that will come to fruition in the near future.”
Highlights from Platforms Gallery
Platforms Gallery recently hosted Auntora Mehrukh Azad’s solo exhibition, “Solastalgia: Fragments of a Fading Horizon,” exploring climate-induced flooding and the rural-urban dichotomy. Auntora’s works blend internal emotions with observations of landscapes reshaped by human activity and environmental crises, reflecting her experiences growing up in Dhaka, one of the world’s most climate-vulnerable cities.
Auntora holds an MFA and BFA in Drawing and Painting from the University of Dhaka. Her work has been featured in notable events, including the 2023 Dhaka Art Summit, the 2019 Yogyakarta International Art Festival in Indonesia, and the Global Women, Women’s Art Exhibition in Thailand. She has also participated in the Asian Art Biennial and the National Art Exhibition in Bangladesh, among others. Her works are part of esteemed collections such as the Samdani Art Foundation and Imago Mundi: Luciano Benetton Collection.
Mohammed Fakhrul Islam Mazumder, a printmaking artist from Cumilla, has also made his mark on the global stage. A graduate of the University of Dhaka, he has exhibited at events such as the Ulsan International Print Art Festival in South Korea and the 19th Asian Art Biennale in Bangladesh. His accolades include the Excellent Work Award from Yunnan Art University in China and the Lalit Kala Academy Print Biennale Award in India.
Another rising star, Tariqul Islam Herok from Munshiganj, is celebrated for his focus on mythical narratives and folk tales. A top graduate of the University of Dhaka, Herok has received numerous accolades, including the Zainul Abedin Gold Medal and the Best Award (Painting) at the 22nd Young Artists Exhibition.
Platforms has organised a solo art exhibition, ‘Solastalgia: Fragments of a Fading Horizon’ by Auntora Mehrukh Azad at its gallery in Pragati Sarani, Baridhara. The exhibition, which opened on October 19, will run till November 16 from 11 am to 8 pm, for art enthusiasts.
The exhibition delves into the personal and universal experiences of environmental change as seen through the eyes of Auntora, whose deep connection to Bangladesh's rivers and landscapes is reflected in her work. ‘Solastalgia: Fragments of a Fading Horizon’ explores the impact of climate-induced flooding and the tension between rural and urban environments. From the Sundarbans to Dhaka's dense urban fabric, Auntora's works illustrate the convergence of these worlds, blending internal emotions with external observations of a landscape reshaped by human activity and environmental crisis.
Auntora’s creative impulse knows no bounds when something deeply emotional moves her. Growing up in Dhaka, one of the most climate-vulnerable cities in the world, she has witnessed the powerful relationship between our landscape. and water. Bangladesh’s geography, shaped by rivers and monsoons, serves as both a source of life and destruction.
Kanak Chanpa Chakma, Auntora Mehrukh Azad, and Rayana Hossain
“A pivotal moment came in 2018 when I worked with flood-affected communities in Pakuria,” said Auntora. “Immersed in their lives, I began to see the landscape as one reshaped by human influence and negligence. The neon pink waters in my work represent the unnatural, man-made elements of this crisis, exacerbated by climate change - a global issue that hits the most vulnerable hardest.”
The curator of the show, Rayana Hossain, also the Founder and Managing Director of ISHO and Platforms, pointed out, “From the Sundarbans to Dhaka’s dense urban fabric, Auntora’s works reflect the convergence of these worlds, blending internal emotions with external observations of a landscape reshaped by human activity and environmental crisis.”
“Through the imagery of neon waters and floating islands, Auntora captures fragmented yet interconnected stories that reflect the collective experiences of those on the margins of environmental disaster,” mentioned Rayana Hossain.
The exhibition showcases the shifting scales of these transitions. It moves from intimate depictions of flood-affected communities to broader, more abstract landscapes, highlighting the internal and external journeys of displacement and environmental degradation. Each painting extends beyond the frame, symbolising the magnitude of the crisis - far too vast to be confined to canvas.
Auntora is a visual artist whose work explores the evolving relationship between nature and urban life. Through an exaggerated and artificial colour palette, her paintings emphasise the gradual dominance of urbanisation over the natural world. She earned both her MFA and BFA in Drawing and Painting from the Faculty of Fine Art at the University of Dhaka. Her work has been
exhibited in prestigious group exhibitions and art camps globally, including the 2023 Dhaka Art Summit, the 2019 Yogyakarta International Art Festival in Indonesia, and the Global Women’s Art Exhibition 2019 by the Maeying Chiang Rai Artist Group in Thailand. She also participated in the 18th Asian Art Biennial Bangladesh in 2018, the 22nd National Art Exhibition in 2017, the Solo International Art Camp 2 in Indonesia, and Immensity, a student art project curated by Bishwajit Goswami at the Abinta Gallery of Fine Arts in Dhaka in 2018.
Her works are held in several prominent private and corporate collections, including the Samdani Art Foundation (2023), Bangladesh: Creative Density - Contemporary Art of the Golden Bengal, and the Imago Mundi: Luciano Benetton Collection (2016).
Initiated by Platforms, several artworks by three Bangladeshi artists - Auntora, Fakhrul Islam Mazumder Shakil, and Tariqul Islam Herok - will be displayed at the upcoming Tokyo International Art Fair, to be held on November 29 and 30.
