An artwork by Imtiaj Shohag.

‘The water beyond’, the fifth solo exhibition of the Paris-based, internationally acclaimed artist, Imtiaj Shohag, is going on at La Gallery of Alliance Française de Dhaka in Dhanmondi.
Shohag is famous for his fragmented works. He uses a very special and personal technique, based on encaustic with heated wax on canvas. Sinking ships, broken dreams, wailing people and others have been painted by the artist, using his own method, which provides visitors with a new language of art.
Shohag’s canvas is the assembly of many fragments and each piece refers to a unique story. At the exhibition, visitors will get to observe his works based on the effect of water on life.  A huge sculpture, symbolically representing water drops, is one of the attractions of this show.
‘The sleeping boat’, portrays boats anchored on the bank of a river. Hot wax and pigments have been laid on wood to create this artistic piece. An acrylic painting, ‘Sinking of Erika’, depicts the historic ship Titanic. ‘Royal-Bengal-Tiger in the Hot Wave’ portrays a tiger taking a bath in sizzling summer. ‘Shipwrecks’ demonstrates ships, while in ‘Fragments’ the artist played with colours and geometric forms.
Shohag studied at the Institute of Fine Arts in Dhaka, before going to France on a scholarship offered by the French Ministry of foreign affairs. As a young artist he has made his distinct place in Paris, which is considered to be a haven for artists. Currently he lives in Paris, but Bangladesh is always present in his works. Olivier Litvine, director of Alliance Française de Dhaka, inaugurated the exhibition on May 10, which will continue till today, from 3:00 pm to 9:00 pm, except Sundays.