Srijon Chowdhury's first solo exhibition, titled Nepotism, was held at “The Gallery” at Gulshan. On display were 24 oil paintings.

With a BFA degree from the University of Minnesota, USA, in 2009 Srijon travelled through China, Cambodia and Thailand with a view to learning painting extensively. Srijon tries to express his ideas, moods, theories, topics and styles in realistic and abstract compositions with a touch of mystic as well as surrealistic presentations using a lot of vibrant and deep colours.

In the 'Girl', 'Boy' or 'Aging' series, Srijon presents the portraits of men or women in pensive mood.

Those are not only mere

portraitures but much more than what is revealed. So we can easily say he does not paint what he sees but paints what he thinks or dreams.

In 'Sirens' we can see three boys crying or shouting, while someone's leg is visible in the canvas. It could be the leg of a dead man lying on the ground and the children are trying to draw everybody's attention, but there is no response.

In this way, Srijon recounts stories through his paintings. Sometimes they are as simple as a soap in a soap-tray, a bell hanging from a beam or two hands playing with red string geometrically in 'Hands-all'. They reveal beauty in a kind of simplicity.

He likes to see things from every corner, inside out and outside in. In

the 'Couch' a man occupies the whole space spreading his hands and legs outright. This is very normal but in contrast we can see some black hands emerging from the holes of two walls. This helps to create a drama of horror. The artist paints beyond what he likes to paint and puts a question as well as answer in a situation of mysticism and esoteric revelations. This is a starting point to understand that the philosophy of human life exists in mother Nature.

Srijon believes art is nothing but a special kind of humanised science as well as a natural philosophy.

Srijon's 'Cow', 'Tea plucker', 'Father and son', 'Whisper', 'Scream' all these works have the qualities of realistic creations with a view behind except some

like 'Expansions' using impasto technique i.e. heavy layers of colours in the style of abstract expressionism proves his eagerness and restlessness in creating something worthwhile. With more experience, Srijon's drawings and colour layers like water colour will be more definite and true to the subject.

With Srijon's debut art exposition, the revamped La Galarie promises to introduce a new platform for upcoming and seasoned artistes. Credit goes to Srijon's father, freedom fighter Akku Chowdhury and Engr. N.H. Bhuiyan.

The exhibition is on till November 20.

Rabiul Husain is an eminent architect and poet.