Small is beautiful-2: Where big stories come to life in compact canvases

Amidst the vibrant splotches of colour stands a man with his back turned, likely preparing a steaming plate of biryani for eager customers. Towering pots rest before him—staples of any authentic biryani shop. Overhead, a tangle of wires hints that this scene is set in the crowded streets of Dhaka.

The painting 'Old Dhaka Biryani' by Anamuz Zahid is filled with nostalgia. You can almost hear the bells of the rickshaws that are passing by and plates clacking against pots from the store. 

The twist? All of that warmth is contained within a mere 11x11-inch frame.

Alongside Zahid's Old Dhaka Biryani, the space at Bhumi Gallery is filled with a collection of similarly sized frames for the group exhibition Small is Beautiful-2. Featuring the works of 12 emerging artists in around 120 pieces, the exhibition offers a glimpse into their experimental styles within small frames. 

The exhibition at Bhumi Gallery, open to all until 20 March, is a collaborative effort between Bhumi Gallery and Shilpangan and has been curated by Saifur Rahman Lenin and Rumi Noman.

The motivation behind creating an exhibition around small canvases has a practical aspect to it. According to co-curator Saifur Rahman Lenin, the compact sizes of the canvases allow them to sell the pieces at accessible price points. The most expensive piece costs Tk10,000, with many pieces having more affordable price tags. 

Despite the challenge, the result was a gallery full of captivating paintings. 

"The picture might be small, but the story in the frame is not small. You can make as big a story in a small canvas as you can in a big canvas," shared Lenin. 

The artists who brought the canvases to life only had two months to prepare for the event. To make matters even more challenging, each artist had to come up with ten pieces. 

"We chose people who were ready for the challenge. I believe young artists are very brave and like to experiment with their work," shared Lenin. 

Though the sizes of the frames were uniform, there were no limitations on subject or theme, letting the artists' creativity run free. 

You can tell that the artists put their hearts into this challenge with their different takes on the space limitations of the canvas. While some artists magnified their subjects, providing great details to small objects, others zoomed out, showing large subjects have a place in small canvases. 

For instance, Sahid Kazi's 'Fallen Leaves' series features meticulously painted autumn leaves that instil a crisp, nostalgic essence of the season. On the other hand, Shakirun Nahar Kanon's 'Dhakaia Heritage—Baitul Mukarram 1' masterfully captures the grandeur of the iconic architectural structure. Despite its compact frame, the artwork channels an undeniable sense of scale, allowing viewers to grasp the monument's vastness.

Interestingly, some artists leaned into their inspirations, creating dedicated pieces as 'Love for Vincent 1'. 

"Emerging artists remain in the process of developing their signature style, contrary to established artists. You will find traces of the artists' inspirations in their works," shared Lenin. 

While the exhibition displayed stunning paintings, there seemed to be only one drawback–the lack of names alongside the paintings, which could have made it easier to navigate between paintings.

TBS Picks

Nature - 05 by Rony Mondol

Medium: Acrylic on canvas

The painting consists of two boys carrying fishnets, walking away from the ocean after a long day's work. The backdrop's blue and orange hues of the sunset instils a calming feeling, making viewers feel one with nature. Interestingly, the two boys are also dressed in blue and orange, keeping the viewer's focus on the colours of the sunset. 

Love for Vincent 3 by Sahid Kazi

Medium: Oil on paper

The piece is an ode to Vincent Van Gogh, drawing inspiration from his still life series of 'Sunflowers' paintings. The painting is part of a series of three sunflowers, each showing the flower in a different stage of life. Compared to the first Love for Vincent 1, the brushstrokes in this painting are chaotic, and the colour palette is duller, alluding to the end of the flower's life cycle.

Old Dhaka Bakarkhani by Anamuz Zahid

Medium: Watercolour on paper

Using impressionism, the artist captures a nostalgic moment through the painting. The piece depicts a man surrounded by bakarkhani, a type of flatbread, in his shop. Though the surroundings of the man are blurred, the overhead wires still make it seem chaotic. It feels like the shopkeeper can block off the noise of the city life in the safety of his shop.