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Dhaka Day by Day

In Search of a Utopia

by Fayza Haq
Abdus Salam, who had tils fourth solo paint Ing exhibition at the Alliance Francalse. had created a dreamland of the local buildings in oil on canvas.
Salam, who has never been to any full time course in painting, has nevertheless been a student of architecture. This has given him access to ideas in basic design, composition perspective and other essentials that go with painting.
When architects go in for urban planning they have the chance to learn about form, texture and design in painting, but few take the painting lessons as seriously as Salam has done. One is not quite sure what Is dearer to his heart — his job as an architect or his passion for painting. .
ing in the evening in the commercial area. The sky appeared black. The red and yellowcolours stood for offices that were still operating though the evening. The painting was a conglomeration of geometrical forms of squares, oblongs and circles.
''Urbanisation-8" included an open verandah. There was light coming from the window panes. The basic body of the buildings remained brown and black. Greenish reflections could be seen from the adjacent trees.
"Urbanisation-30" was another mass of red brick creation. There were once again the shadows from the glass panels. Horizontal lines indicated different floors. "I |ove using brick in my designing and my professional work." Salam elaborated.
The painter is not a professional one as he does not earn his living by painting. Yet he is more serious than some professionals, since he picks up the brush and manages to hold solo exhibitions of his work ever so often. From the quality point of view. Salam has been accepted by the Bangladesh Shtlpakala Academy in '75. Since then he has Joined in every national and international show in Dhaka.
In his expose -Urbanisation" he has blended his two identities — that of an architect and a painter. He has found delight and joy tn vertical forms, horizontal expansiveness., variation tn texture and the splurge of colours. He has blended in the charm of steel frames and glasses, the nostalgia and richness of red bricks, as well as the variety of flat coloured walls. He has got his inspiration from arches, pillars, and oblong high-rise buildings. His palette included variations of brown and red. He has also blended in other cooler colours such as bluest violets and greens.
The final effect was that of a mosaic of dancing colours which were produced by the glass windows of the rooms that were lit up from within. Although the artist had usually dealt with horizontal surface — pertaining to perspectives of city forms — he had also gone in for aerial views.
While he had delineated the well-to-do sec tlons x>f the society, at the back of his mind was also the concern for the world of the poor with their slums and squatter settlements. Although this has not come out prominently in his paintings. he has conducted research in those areas of the poverty stricken.
"Urbanisation-20" showed a high rise build-
"Urbanisation-44" brought in bushes of flowers and plants along with balconies, arches and sunshades, all swept up in hues of red and orange.
Buildings were seen once again in "Urbanlzatlon-34" but there the red and brown had been toned down. The emphasis was on yellow. There were in addition, reflections of light blue to add to the flat yellow.
Salam, who is specially influenced by Piet Mondrain and Ben Nicholson, said about his efforts. "It's more than just a hobby. I don't have any other entertainment. 1 don’t spend on cards, smoking or drinking but save up for canvases, paints and brushes. I dream of a well-planned and beautiful city life. As an architect 1 plan residential houses, office buildings, schools, hospitals and other public utility structures. This has inspired me to do my semi-abstracts."
The architect cum painter added. "I am specially concerned that poor people of all incomes should be provided with dwelling units of at least two rooms. I am also anxious about the scarcity of land tn the city. That is why vertical expansion is important, particularly for commercial purposes. There should also be a limitation that .. h can build only till 15 stories and n . beyond-that. My dream Is that the cuy siionlu be properly designed, planned and clean .
"Why must we wait for donor countries — why can't we remove the bastis ourselves? There are so many political changes that even when concrete and appropriate suggestions arc given nothing materialises." Salam com-mented.