& çâÌæÚUæð´ ·¤è ¥ôÚU Îð¹Ùæ ÁæÚUè ÚU¹ð´ ¥ÍæüÌ ¥ÂÙð ÜÿØ ÂÚU ŠØæÙ ÚU¹ð´Ð ãæÚU Ù ×æÙð´, €UØô´ç·¤ ·¤æ× ·¤ÚUÙð âð ¥æÂ·¤ô ©gðàØ ·¤è Âýæç# ãôÌè ãñ ¥õÚU ÁèßÙ ·¤æ ¹æÜèÂÙ ÎêÚU ãôÌæ ãñÐ ÖÜð ãè ÁèßÙ ×ð´ ç·¤ÌÙè Öè ·¤çÆÙæ§ü €UØô´ Ù ¥æ°, çÁ™ææâæ ¥õÚU ©ˆâæã ÕÙæ° ÚU¹ð´Ð ŠØæÙ ÚU¹ð´, ÜÿØ ã×ðàææ ¥æÂ·Ô¤ Âæâ ãôÌð ãñ´ çÁ‹ãð´ ÂæÙð ·Ô¤ çÜ° ÂýØæâ ¥æÂ ·¤Öè Öè àæéM¤ ·¤ÚU â·¤Ìð ãñ´Ð

Master of technique

In conversation with artst munirul islam

Takir Hossain
“I am enjoying freedom working on a big canvas; it offers me opportunities where I can easily apply my thoughts through lines, forms and colours. Small space cannot give me such an opportunity. I think each medium has an individual demand and personal trait. Art can be enriched by changing medium.
“When I am thinking about a new image, a new idea comes to my mind. Trauma and frustration are also part of my paintings,” said Madrid- based Bangladeshi artist Monirul Islam at his atelier in Dhanmondi.
Islam now splits his time in two cities--Dhaka and Madrid. In his kaleidoscopic journey of over 45 years in art, he has developed his unique style, which is known as “Monk’s School” in Spain.
“Colour, tenor and texture can be transformed according to location and moment. I think location is one of the most dominant aspects in any artist's life. When I'm engrossed in painting, I lose myself. Without any fear and hesitation, I might even destroy my created image, as the painting takes over me; I believe each painting has a life and a unique appearance of its own,” says Islam.
Without much care and consideration, Islam applies colours and creates forms, lines and compositions. He puts layer upon layer of paint, until he feels that he has achieved what he's determined. The outcome is a thoughtful, subtly balanced arrangement of colours and meticulous space.
The artist likes to work in different mediums. But print is his favourite, and he excels in the medium. The painter feels that an artist should enjoy his or her creative sovereignty. “An able artist can work in several mediums. There shouldn't be a set medium for an art-ist, and the method to articulate an artistic vision should depend on his/her mood and temperament. The practice of art differs from one individual to another, nation to nation, and period to period. This concept can be understood from Picasso's paintings. His style of drawing, lines, figures, movements - all constitute his signature style. Picasso worked in different mediums, such as painting, drawing, sculpture, ceramics and printmaking. But his personal style was consistent,” said Islam.
In 1969, when Islam was only 27- years- old, he went to Spain on a scholarship. For nine months, during his student days there, Islam worked on murals and frescos and won an award from the Spanish government. This allowed him to stay in Madrid for another year. During that period, he studied Goya's paintings (of the Black period) and tried to comprehend the significance of light, colour and composition.
After settling in Spain, the artist has been using paper as a medium. The artist believes paper has a mystical quality. It gives his works a different appeal and look. “After I started making my own paper, it gave my work a certain distinctness. During my early years in Spain, I did many watercolours, which mainly focused on the bucolic beauty of Bangladesh. I couldn't get over missing Bangladesh. My childhood, my teenage years - significant stages of my life involve Bangladesh,” Islam recalled.
In his leisure, the veteran artist attends museums and different exhibitions — featuring classic art as well as to contemporary works. Velazquez, Goya, Leonardo da Vinci, Michael Angelo and other master painters continue to inspire him. Islam often finds himself fascinated with the interplay of light, colours, figures, compositions, lines and themes in their works.