Grismer Rang: Stories of our summer

Stepping into the exhibition, you can't help but smile as you find yourself in a room full of colourful canvases, all waiting to be seen—each ready to tell you a different story of summer in Bangladesh.

Gallery The Illusions presents 'Grismer Rang', an art exhibition featuring the works of 50 artists across various mediums. Visitors can soothe their eyes or take the artworks home, as they are all for sale. The exhibition also offers postcards—priced at Tk100 for a set and Tk500 for the complete collection featured in the show.

It is always refreshing to be reminded that summer isn't just about getting stuck in traffic or battling heatwaves. One of the artworks, Maddhanna by M M Maksud Biplob, beautifully captures this reality—turning our everyday traffic horror into something almost pleasing to the eyes.

Artworks set beyond the concrete jungle offer a breath of fresh air, transporting viewers into breezy landscapes brought to life by colour. Standing in front of these pieces, you might find yourself imagining a boat ride with nothing but the open sea ahead, as the warm summer breeze stirs up memories of childhood.

"We wanted to focus on the six seasons of Bangladesh, and since we previously worked on the monsoon, this time round we chose summer. The season has a reputation for being dry, but we wanted to showcase that it's also about Kalboishakhi (a Nor'wester), flowers, and more," said Karu Titas, Curator of Grismer Rang.

A painting by Kiriti Ranjan Biswas, Shoishobe Boishakh, captures the essence of children enjoying Bengali New Year—playing with paper fans, unfazed by the heat.

Summer in Bangladesh is not just a season; it's a sensory experience, rich with colour, scent, movement, and emotion. This is vividly captured in Javed Jalil's 'Fragrance of Summer', where the very essence of heat seems to rise from the canvas. 

Similarly, Lutfa Mahmuda's 'Winds of Summer' interprets the season with a burst of motion. Her work carries the feeling of a late afternoon storm building up, the sky turning grayish-gold, trees swaying, and the wind whispering of rain yet to come. Both artists explore how summer affects the rhythm of everyday life, from languid moments to sudden stirrings.

Rezaul Hoque's 'Summer Thirst' brings in a deeper, more grounded perspective on the season. The painting alludes to the rural hardships of the Bangladeshi summer—the dry land, the sweat-soaked bodies, the wait for monsoon. It reflects how, for many, summer is not only about warmth and nostalgia but also about endurance. 

Witnessing 50 artists each interpret summer in their own unique style is truly something special.

"I wanted to highlight talent from across Bangladesh, not just Dhaka," said Karu Titas. "Our artists have incredible skills that deserve recognition." He added that he's been following many of them for a while and finally brought them together for this collective showcase.

The exhibition began on 18 April and will continue till 28 April, running daily from 3 PM to 11 PM at Gallery The Illusions in Lalmatia.

TBS Picks

Panta Bhat  by Abdullah Al Bashi

Medium: Acrylic on canvas

The painting brings together a sleepy summer afternoon scene we all know—a plate of rice and hilsha fish on a mat, a cat dozing nearby, and crows eyeing the food. It's a simple, familiar moment that captures the quiet warmth of summer days in Bangladesh.

A Beauty in River by Jamal Ahmed 

Medium: Watercolour on paper

This piece shows a peaceful summer moment—a woman walking along a calm river bank. The soft colours and gentle setting feel calm and familiar, like something you'd see on a quiet afternoon outside the city.

Festival by Kanak Chanpa Chakma

Medium: Acrylic on canvas

In Festival, we see a group of women from the hills dressed in colourful traditional clothes and flower head pieces. The painting is full of movement and celebration, giving a glimpse into how summer festivals are enjoyed in the hill tracts.