Bengal Art Lounge has organised a solo exhibition titled "River Stories", showcasing outstanding paintings and painted objects by Vinita Karim, a painter of Indian origin and born in Burma (now Myanmar). Pankaj Saran, High Commissioner of India to Bangladesh, and eminent artist Rafiqun Nabi jointly inaugurated the exhibition on May 16.

Vinita Karim lived in a number of countries prior to settling in Bangladesh. Deeply influ-

enced by her lifelong travels, her painting style boasts clear influences from the visual traditions of the Arab peninsula and the Far-East. But "River Stories" is deeply rooted in Bangladesh: it plunges the viewer into the magic of its riverine delta and recalls the glory of its fabled cities. The painter's original use of local materials such as muslin, which she directly stitches onto the canvas, completes the special experience in this exhibition.

Conceived as an ode to Bengal and its countless rivers,

this exhibition features a selection of the recent works by the acclaimed painter. The pictorial technique on display is characterised by vivid colours and a distinctive rendition of forms and shapes which subtly departs from the language of reality. Vinita Karim's paintings give access to a world of uniqueness; a utopia best defined by serenity and beauty.

Dense, colourful layers of what can be imagined as human habitations are aligned along immense lines in various shades of blue. These majestic rives

seem to dictate the entire geometry on the canvas. Above, hanging in crimson and golden skies, the image of crescent moons or glowing suns enhance the impression of beauty. The reference to the affluent past of Bengal instantly comes to mind evoking nostalgia. The artist has composed a harmonising contrariety through assorted ingredients including, acrylic, oil, muslin, ordinary fabric, gold leaf and copper leaf.

The exhibition, which is open from 12pm-8pm daily, ends today.