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Civilisation in peril

Iqbal’s paintings hit a burning issue

Tamr Hossain
Art enriches and broadens our soul. Art develops the aesthetic sense and enriches the quality of human beings. Art helps us to live and makes our life more interesting; it develops our cultural and social level. Art is greatly connected to our economic and cultural ambiance. The soul is always modified by the revolutionary changes of cultural, social, politi-cal and economical structure, . „ ™
Evolution occurs Weis. And
from the ancient time to Sie contemporary time, lots of movements have appeared in the art and culture milieu. All the movements are guided by time and history. Art enhances our culture, religion, social, political and geographical state and directs us particularly towards a civilisation based on an amalgamation of all these values.
Artists are always searching for new themes and novel techniques. This is a continuing process and all the movements started with a novel approach. Artists express their emotions, feelings and yearning through subjects, mediums and styles. As a subject, artists have chosen humanity since the Renaissance. Humanity has been articulated on the canvas with utmost empathy and passion.
The subject has been addressed at times with abhorrence against injustice and often with anxiety and rage caused by it. This is the grist to the mill in Mohammad Iqbal's case. Iqbal is one of the
leading painters of the '80s and his current pet subject is children, whom he regards as neglected and mistreated.
"My theme is 'Civilisation and Destruction.' The thought process is apparent on my canvas. Throughout the course of civilisation, major acts of violence and malice have taken place in different parts of the world," said Iqbal.
"Civilisation now faces several threats. War, intolerance, superstition, xenophobia, conflict of interest, inequality and power play are rampant. The-f^oYld Has advanced through etiucjbtion, science and technology. However, violence and hostility continue to pose threat to human civilisation. If the present trend continues, the existence of humans, animals and nature will be on the verge of extinction gradually," he said.
"Children are a symbol of hope and peace. Their existence depends on a world devoid of war and brutality. Many children die every year in wars and conflicts," Iqbal continues.
In the artist's view, the face is the most significant part of human figure and it is essentially the window of the mind. Through his works, he seeks to convey children's dreams, bliss, woes, yearnings and other emotions, and the artist focuses on eyes and faces to achieve that.
“I collect information from newspapers and journals on child abuse, trafficking, killing and rape. It makes me cry when I see children in inhuman conditions," Iqbal said. Memories from childhood
are also important to him. "I cherish those carefree days with endless possibilities," he added.
Delving into the past, Iqbal said that during the Liberation War he was just four years old. "Many lost their entire families to the war. Children lost their parents. War has now become a recurrent feature in the world. We remain insecure and unsafe. Children grow up amidst terror and panic -- some survive on the streets or orphanages. Many of them don't get to enjoy their fundamental rights. Unlike other major issues, children don't have enolIgh'StfuIts faking up their cause," the artist explained his reason for choosing children as the theme of his artworks.
Children represent all that is pure and innocent. Some of the other motifs in Iqbal's paintings are animals, birds, houses, rivers, boats, hills and sky. The subjects appear in abstract, semi-abstract and realistic styles. "As always I haven't maintained one particular ism, method, style or technique. I like to articulate the process of thinking and then add emotions and personal experiences. I think my works follow modern expressionism.
"Art is now a subject of self-expression. Art has no particular language. However, oil is my favourite medium because it gives me flexibility. I enjoy experimenting with new motifs, forms and techniques," Iqbal said.
Mohammad Iqbal now lives and works in Tokyo, Japan.