When music is at the core of art | The Business Standard
Skip to main content
  • Latest
  • Economy
    • Banking
    • Stocks
    • Industry
    • Analysis
    • Bazaar
    • RMG
    • Corporates
    • Aviation
  • Videos
    • TBS Today
    • TBS Stories
    • TBS World
    • News of the day
    • TBS Programs
    • Podcast
    • Editor's Pick
  • World+Biz
  • Features
    • Panorama
    • The Big Picture
    • Pursuit
    • Habitat
    • Thoughts
    • Splash
    • Mode
    • Tech
    • Explorer
    • Brands
    • In Focus
    • Book Review
    • Earth
    • Food
    • Luxury
    • Wheels
  • More
    • Sports
    • TBS Graduates
    • Bangladesh
    • Supplement
    • Infograph
    • Archive
    • Gallery
    • Long Read
    • Interviews
    • Offbeat
    • Magazine
    • Climate Change
    • Health
    • Cartoons
  • বাংলা
The Business Standard

Friday
June 13, 2025

Sign In
Subscribe
  • Latest
  • Economy
    • Banking
    • Stocks
    • Industry
    • Analysis
    • Bazaar
    • RMG
    • Corporates
    • Aviation
  • Videos
    • TBS Today
    • TBS Stories
    • TBS World
    • News of the day
    • TBS Programs
    • Podcast
    • Editor's Pick
  • World+Biz
  • Features
    • Panorama
    • The Big Picture
    • Pursuit
    • Habitat
    • Thoughts
    • Splash
    • Mode
    • Tech
    • Explorer
    • Brands
    • In Focus
    • Book Review
    • Earth
    • Food
    • Luxury
    • Wheels
  • More
    • Sports
    • TBS Graduates
    • Bangladesh
    • Supplement
    • Infograph
    • Archive
    • Gallery
    • Long Read
    • Interviews
    • Offbeat
    • Magazine
    • Climate Change
    • Health
    • Cartoons
  • বাংলা
FRIDAY, JUNE 13, 2025
When music is at the core of art

Splash

Aunim Shams
10 November, 2023, 01:15 pm
Last modified: 10 November, 2023, 02:36 pm

Related News

  • Journey to the Roots: Planting the seeds of forgotten handcrafted heritage
  • Bangladesh Astronomical Association, Alliance Francaise de Dhaka hosts astronomy event on Einstein's birthday
  • Hamiduzzaman Khan’s legacy sculpted in steel
  • The Art of Triumph: Documenting art, truth and history
  • Affordable Spring: Where colours spring to life

When music is at the core of art

In a harmonious fusion of colours and emotions, artist Zahangir Alom invites viewers into a world of profound introspection with his third solo art exhibition, aptly named 'Songs of the Soul'

Aunim Shams
10 November, 2023, 01:15 pm
Last modified: 10 November, 2023, 02:36 pm

'Songs of Nature' portrays nature and the artist's love for humanity. Photos: Courtesy
'Songs of Nature' portrays nature and the artist's love for humanity. Photos: Courtesy

Every painting is different, every canvas portrays more than a picture. Yet somehow, they all feel connected, bound from a single string of colours and emotion.

Walking into the La Galerie of Alliance Française de Dhaka, I was greeted by an array of colourful canvases. The common underlying theme was the portrayal of nature and the artist's love for nature and humanity, bound together by the chords and harmony of Indian Classical Music. And most profoundly, the presence of a feminine entity.

Zahangir Alom
Zahangir Alom

Artist Zahangir Alom reassured me that my initial takeaway was  not too far off.

"Music lives within me. Whenever I am painting, there's always music in the background. The music of nature inspires me. Bangla's nature, love and its women, all inspire me. But music is always at the core of everything," said Zahangir.

The Business Standard Google News Keep updated, follow The Business Standard's Google news channel

"I tried translating the philosophical aspect of our mystique bards like Fakir Lalon and Shah Abdul Karim onto my canvas. Hence the name, Songs of the Soul," he added.

Zahangir's work stands out for its skillful portrayal of motion in still images. He achieves this by employing precise brushwork and texture, infusing his pieces with a tangible sense of movement and rhythm. This lively characteristic encourages viewers not just to observe the artwork, but to become enveloped in its flow. 

His paintings often draw from neo-Bengal styles, celebrating the seasons, the earth's aroma after rain, the soulful notes of music, and characters from mythological tales like Radha, Lalita, Bishakha, and Behula. Each painting forms its own universe, captured within the artist's illusions.

"I always draw from memory. Till the point I feel I am fully painting my thoughts and inspirations onto the canvas, I keep working on it," he said. 

He draws inspiration from nature's elements - soil, water, and forests - infusing his paintings with a musical essence. He favours bright reds, blues, yellows, oranges, and blacks in many of his pieces. 

His depictions of towering trees and the play of light filtering through them create a sense of magic. Bright hues stand out even more against a backdrop of dark tones, creating captivating illusions that stem from a spiritual connection.

When it comes to the heavy feminine influence in his paintings, Zahangir reiterated that this was his way of paying homage to 'mothers.' Such an essence is clearly visible in the graceful movements of feminine figures in traditional dance forms like 'Gaudiya Nritya' to evocative ragas like 'Desh', 'Bageshree', 'Khamaj', or 'Malkauns.'

Alliance Française Dhaka provides an ideal backdrop for Alom's work. The serene ambience of the gallery space complements the contemplative nature of the exhibition, allowing visitors to engage with the art in a meditative and immersive manner.  

     

art / Alliance Française de Dhaka (AFD) / Songs of the Soul

Comments

While most comments will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive, moderation decisions are subjective. Published comments are readers’ own views and The Business Standard does not endorse any of the readers’ comments.

Top Stories

  • Firefighters work at the scene of a damaged building in the aftermath of Israeli strikes, in Tehran, Iran, on June 13, 2025. Majid Asgaripour/WANA (West Asia News Agency) via REUTERS
    Israel hits Iran nuclear facilities, missile factories; Tehran vows revenge
  • A building stands damaged in the aftermath of Israeli strikes, in Tehran, Iran, June 13, 2025. Photo: Reuters
    Israel declares state of emergency: Defence ministry
  • Chief of Army Staff of Iran's armed forces Mohammad Bagheri. Photo: CNN
    Iran armed forces chief Bagheri killed in Israeli attack: State TV

MOST VIEWED

  • Wreckage of a Boeing 787 Dreamliner showing part of its registration "VT-ANB" in Ahmedabad, India, June 12, 2025. REUTERS/Amit Dave
    Air India Dreamliner crashes into Ahmedabad college hostel, kills over 290
  • File Photo of Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus: UNB
    Prof Yunus to receive Harmony Award from King Charles today
  • Bangladesh Bank Governor Ahsan H Mansur. TBS Sketch
    Bangladesh mulls settlements with tycoons over offshore wealth: BB governor tells FT
  • Railway seeks Tk2,000cr foreign loans to revive coach assembly, modernise workshops
    Railway seeks Tk2,000cr foreign loans to revive coach assembly, modernise workshops
  • UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus
    Disclosure of unconfirmed Yunus-Starmer meeting shows ‘diplomatic imprudence’: Analysts
  • Brother sues Latifur's daughter, widow over alleged forgery to seize control of Transcom
    Brother sues Latifur's daughter, widow over alleged forgery to seize control of Transcom

Related News

  • Journey to the Roots: Planting the seeds of forgotten handcrafted heritage
  • Bangladesh Astronomical Association, Alliance Francaise de Dhaka hosts astronomy event on Einstein's birthday
  • Hamiduzzaman Khan’s legacy sculpted in steel
  • The Art of Triumph: Documenting art, truth and history
  • Affordable Spring: Where colours spring to life

Features

Among pet birds in the country, lovebirds are the most common, and they are also the most numerous in the haat. Photo: Junayet Rashel

Where feathers meet fortune: How a small pigeon stall became Dhaka’s premiere bird market

1d | Panorama
Illustration: Duniya Jahan/ TBS

Forget Katy Perry, here’s Bangladesh’s Ruthba Yasmin shooting for the moon

2d | Features
File photo of Eid holidaymakers returning to the capital from their country homes/Rajib Dhar

Dhaka: The city we never want to return to, but always do

4d | Features
Photo collage shows political posters in Bagerhat. Photos: Jannatul Naym Pieal

From Sheikh Dynasty to sibling rivalry: Bagerhat signals a turning tide in local politics

5d | Bangladesh

More Videos from TBS

Banks' estimates were wrong: Bangladesh Bank spokesperson

Banks' estimates were wrong: Bangladesh Bank spokesperson

15h | Podcast
What exactly happened to the ill-fated Boeing aircraft?

What exactly happened to the ill-fated Boeing aircraft?

16h | TBS World
Govt to set up Debt Office as loan burden to hit Tk29 lakh cr by FY28

Govt to set up Debt Office as loan burden to hit Tk29 lakh cr by FY28

16h | TBS Insight
Curfew imposed for second night in Los Angeles

Curfew imposed for second night in Los Angeles

17h | TBS World
EMAIL US
contact@tbsnews.net
FOLLOW US
WHATSAPP
+880 1847416158
The Business Standard
  • About Us
  • Contact us
  • Sitemap
  • Advertisement
  • Privacy Policy
  • Comment Policy
Copyright © 2025
The Business Standard All rights reserved
Technical Partner: RSI Lab

Contact Us

The Business Standard

Main Office -4/A, Eskaton Garden, Dhaka- 1000

Phone: +8801847 416158 - 59

Send Opinion articles to - oped.tbs@gmail.com

For advertisement- sales@tbsnews.net