One Square Stories brings 20 artists onto a shared frame

On a modest wall, a single square foot does not seem like much space. Yet in the hands of an artist, even that small frame can hold an entire moment, an observation, a memory, or sometimes just a quiet feeling that refuses to stay unspoken. At One Square Stories, that idea of how something small can still carry a story becomes the centre of the show.

Organised by Bhumi Gallery, the group exhibition opened on 14 February and will continue until 14 March, welcoming visitors daily from 3pm to 9pm. The opening evening brought together artists, critics, and art enthusiasts, with renowned Bangladeshi artist Rafiqun Nabi attending as chief guest and United Group Advisor Ashtar Mahmud Rana as special guest.

What greets visitors inside the gallery is a wall filled with small canvases, 100 of them in total. Each work shares the same format: a one-square-foot canvas. The restriction is deliberate. Instead of expansive surfaces, the artists are asked to work within a tight frame, almost like writing a short note instead of a long letter.

And the size immediately changes how the exhibition feels. Instead of overwhelming the viewer, the paintings ask you to come closer. You slow down, lean in, and notice things you might otherwise miss – a quick brushstroke, a quiet colour transition, a tiny figure hidden into the corner of a scene.

Participating artists include Mohammad Eunus, Jamal Ahmed, Ranjit Das, Ahmed Shamsuddoha, Kanak Chanpa Chakma, Mohammad Iqbal, Mahmudur Rahman Dipon, Shaila Akhter, Azmeer Hossain, Sadek Ahmed, Kamal Uddin, Abdus Sattar Toufiq, MM Maksud Biplob, Abdullah Al Bashir, Kamruzzoha, Sahid Kazi, Monjur Rashid, Nazmul Haque Bappy, Azmol Hossain and Jayanta Mondal.

But what makes the exhibition interesting is not just the number of artists, but the range between them. Some belong to an older generation with long careers behind them; others are still finding their footing. Their works hang side by side, quietly bridging different stages of artistic life.

Among the youngest participants is artist Azmol Hossain, who reflected on the experience of sharing the same exhibition space with senior artists. "Saifur, the owner of the Bhumi Gallery wanted to arrange an exhibition before Eid, and here in this exhibition, 20 artists from three generations of artists have participated and I belong to the most junior group, so it is an honour for me to be able to showcase my work alongside them," he said.

The exhibition is also part of a broader vision articulated by Saifur Rahman Lelin, founder and executive chairman of Bhumi Gallery. For him, it is not simply about presenting paintings; it is about shifting the way people encounter art in everyday life. Too often, he believes, original artworks remain limited to collectors or a small circle of patrons. Bhumi Gallery hopes to change that pattern by making art more approachable, both physically and financially.

By presenting small works at accessible price points, the exhibition invites visitors to imagine owning a piece of art themselves, something that can quietly live on the walls of ordinary homes.

After all, an artwork does not need a large space to exist. Sometimes a single square is enough. And when enough of those squares come together, they begin to form a much larger story – one that stretches beyond the gallery walls and into the lives of the people who carry them home.

TBS Picks

Where the Land Breathes by Jayanta Mondal
Medium: Acrylic on Canvas

The detailing in this series is quietly captivating. In this particular work, a few cranes stand in a water body, almost dissolving into the landscape around them. The scene feels calm and unhurried, as if lifted from a quiet morning somewhere far from the city. The palette remains soft and light, and that restraint works beautifully – the colours settle into the eye slowly, leaving a gentle sense of ease.

Beckoning Horizon – 1 by Azmeer Hossain
Medium: Mixed Media

This series by Azmeer Hossain is one of the first things that catches the eye upon entering the room. The painting is built around layered shades of blue that shift and deepen across the surface. Natural elements appear alongside abstract forms, blending into one another without clear boundaries. The occasional use of red punctuates the composition at just the right moments, giving the work a quiet tension that holds the viewer's attention.

Girl with Pigeon by Ranjit Das
Medium: Acrylic on Canvas

This portrait of a girl holding a pigeon immediately draws attention with its bold yellows and greens. From a distance, the colours dominate the surface. But as you step closer, the brushwork begins to reveal itself – energetic, deliberate, and full of movement. Each stroke feels purposeful, gradually shaping the expression and presence of the figure.