One sees many animals like bloated cows, expecting kids, human faces and figures - such as the fasting Buddha at "Shilpangan", (new) Rd 13. Dhanmandi. The animals, birds and sprouting seeds are symbols of the artist Tawfique’s feelings and emotions. He has studied with the well-known artist Wakilur Rahman from Berlin, at Beijing. He had gone there with a Chinese scholarship of two years. In the 1980s the rules were lax, and they could visit The Forbidden City and also the Square. The artist studied at the Central Academy of Fine Arts, and learnt modeling of live figures in more details and depth. He wanted to educate himself on the ancient culture of China, at the same time. This is because the Chinese excelled in dealing with human forms and Nature.

Returning to Bangladesh, he took a course in welding in Shaymoli. Hence he combined his skill and knowledge with his thoughts and feelings. He did not wish to establish himself as a popular gallery artist. At his Begunbaria studio he had a one-day exhibit of his work. He used the products that the sawmills utilized and turned it into fine arts. It had symbolic meanings, hopes and desires of the artist. Tawfique did this to create respect for the workers of the mill. The artist got the support of art lovers of the bourgeois class, as well as the common man who came from the neighborhood. Other artists in the neighborhood also flocked. An interaction thus developed.

In Karwan Bazar, Towfique had his next exhibit, molding life with art. This was for a day in a restaurant called "Nobanno”. The wholesale market, the lighting were transformed into art. This was the same as he had done in the studio near the sawmill. Tawfique’s desire to promote the proletariat thus found success. Side by side, he went into welding, taking a studio there. Nearby there were many mills that created metal grills. They too worked in the same media and technology-only they were not into Fine Arts. This created respect for the common man. There is an industrial zone at Tejgaon and Begunbaria is nearby. “Incidentally, this is somewhat nostalgic-as 1 spent my childhood there. The noise and smell of the iron beating is dear to me. After working for three years, I collected works, which one now sees in "Shilpangan". "Connecting art,

life and living" is the title of the on going exhibition. The 15 day exhibition ends on 12th October.