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Exhibition

The twain shall meet

N1VEDITA RAIT7. VON FRENTZ
Nearly two dozen paintings depict-ing, among other subjects, Bangladeshi festivals and seasons are displayed at Afrozaa Jamil’s fourth solo exhibition at the Nordic Club in Gulshan.
Dhaka-born .Afrozaa spent her early years following her army colonel father around what was then West Pakistan, returning to her birthplace a couple of years after independence. The second of four sisters, Afrozaa has culture in her blood; her father was a good Tagore singer, her mother “culturally enlightened". Unfortunately, her father's dream that Afrozaa pursue the study of art in Paris did not materialise, and while she concurrently learned music with Ustad Yasin Khan, she declined a place at Baroda for personal reasons. Instead, she joined Charukala for an all- encompassing two year pre-degree course, and went on to complete her Batchelor's there, taught by many of today's renowned names.
Majoring in Oriental Art, Afrozaa set off on her European sojourn, having her fill of museums, and returned to join Aarong as a designer under chief Chandrashekhar. Marriage took her further afield to Los Angeles in the late eighties, a move she considers the turning point in her artistic style's development, “California changed the way I think, my view towards mankind". There, she honed her print-making and painting skills and believes the result to be a “confluence of eastern and western techniques; a wonderful friendship". Preferring to portray women in the impressionist style, Afrozaa uses a fusion of acrylics and oils to achieve a semi-abstract effect.
She fondly recalled her first solo at the Sonargaon Hotel while still a Charukala student. “It was not
appreciated by my teachers, who thought 1 had jumped the gun, but well received by relatives, friends and the public." xReturning to Dhaka in 2005 with the intention of staying a while, Afrozaa was apprehensive about her foray into the local art scene, her contemporaries having moved on. become senior artists. Designer friend Mahin Khan persuaded Afrozaa otherwise; 2007 was a prolific year, work-
ing towards the exhibition.
Channelling her talent towards a good cause, together with children's author Nazia Jabeen, Afrozaa is actively involved in Save the Children UK's (SCUK). Prodipan programme, teaching art to child labourers. "It s wonder fully satisfying to see the children's smiles." Afrozaa also finds contributing time to another SCUK project at a boys' juvenile development
centre in Tongi “very fulfilling. lam more than happy to transpose my knowledge to these children.”
Last November, Cyclone Sidr's deadly aftermath was keenly felt in Bangladesh, Bagerhat district's Shoronkhola Upazila being no exception. Furthering her involvement with SCUK, Afrozaa visited nine children's safe havens (Amader Jayga} set up by the international NGO. She found them to be well-managed and nin, with local NGOs pullingout all the stops. As part of an exercise to distract the children, she took along huge 6x3 feet canvasses and acrylic paint, allowing them free reign. "I simply guided the children, let them experiment. I was welcomed so warmly. There was no sign of Sidr on their faces.” Naturally, Sidr's effect on Afrozaa is reflected in a couple of paintings in this current selection.
In addition to her welfare commitments, and shuttling between the USA and Bangladesh, Afrozaa intends having further exhibitions here. She is thrilled that her ongoing effort at the Nordic Club will boost her plans to make the necessaryinroads.
The writer is a freelance contributor