Scapes: A journey through mind and nature

In an almost dystopian image, a bird flies inside of a blue bubble. Beneath it, on the brown barren ground a flock of sheep is moving forward, in search of greenery. Even though it seems to stand out from the serene paintings of nature surrounding it, it does, in fact, fit in. 
 
The abstract images yet coherent narrative come together to give viewers a glimpse into one's mind—or, their mindscape.
 
The piece titled, 'Journey (Mindscape)' is only one of the many artworks displayed in Galleri Kaya's group exhibition titled '- - - - - scapes'. The exhibition is an exploration of different images and scenes—both physical and abstract. Starting on 29 November, the exhibition will come to a close on 10 December.
 
The ambiguity in the theme and in the title of the exhibition was intentional, according to Goutam Chakraborty, curator of the exhibition. 
 
"Usually, 'scapes' follows words such as landscapes, riverscapes, mindscapes and soundscapes. There is a whole horizon when it comes to matters of 'scapes,'" he said.
 
Goutam continues to explain how keeping the term ambiguous allowed them to expand their horizons. It also meant that many of the art pieces they would end up displaying would inevitably contain similar subjects such as village sceneries and nature. He feels even if five different artists painted the same subject, each piece would turn out to be unique, becoming a testament of each artist's individuality and creativity. 
 
A majority of the artwork displayed in the exhibition explored the physical realm, such as paintings of boats battling the sea, cityscapes, and sceneries of village life. 
 
"When you look at one painting it might evoke a sense of sadness and when you look at another piece of the same subject it can make you feel the opposite. In that case, it is not just a landscape—it is a mindscape. A connection between the artist and the viewer is created," shared Goutam. 
 
The few abstract pieces such as 'How we survive' by Kamruzzaman Sagar certainly demand viewers to spend a few extra minutes with them to dissect their meanings. 
 
One of the standout pieces of the exhibition has to be Jamal Ahmed's painting, 'Fishing-2'. The painting, depicting two fishermen, carries a sense of movement with the brushstrokes that move horizontally across the canvas. Even in the simplicity of the motion of the fisherman, the painting encapsulates a sense of power and strength. 
 
Ahmed Shamsuddoha's painting titled, 'Land of Shrimp' is another outstanding piece. The artist manages to capture the soul of nature with his brush. From a distance, it almost looks like the painting itself is emitting light from between the clouds. 
 
TBS Picks
 
Ancient Beauty by Chandra Shekhar Dey
Medium: Watercolour on paper
This artwork features a stylised portrait of a woman with intricate, geometric patterns in her attire and surroundings. The background contains architectural elements resembling a mosaic cityscape, combining ancient and modern design. The colour palette is dominated by soft blues, giving the piece a serene, dreamy quality. 

 Waves by Shahanoor Mamun
Medium: Acrylic on canvas
The painting depicts a boat battling against the waves in the midst of a storm. Blue tones seem to dominate the entire canvas, and the only thing that separates the dark blue sky from the deep blue waters are the motions of the brush strokes. The only contrast in the painting comes from the pop of red on the boat. 

Fishing-2 by Jamal Ahmed
Medium: Acrylic on canvas
The painting depicts two men fishing, set against a likely rainy backdrop. Motion is vividly depicted in the painting through blurred lines, conveying movement and power. The soft, muted tones of blues and earth shades capture a sense of power and calmness. The figures, clad in simple garments, reflect resilience and connection to nature.