Renowned Bangladeshi expatriate painter Khurshid Alam Saleem draws inspiration from nature and its various manifestations. He began his career as a pure abstract painter. With the passage of time, the painter has refined himself. Consequently, new lines, techniques, forms and different types of objects have been added to his paintings. The painter left the country for New York in 1987. Prior to his departure for USA, he engaged himself as an abstract expressionist and his themes range from nature to the surrounding ambiance, political turmoil as well as weal and woe of masses. He has also been occupied with several themes in his career. However, his stay in New York triggered his inclination towards nature. Air, water and soil -- all natural elements -- in his view have no dissimilarity no matter where one goes. It can be said that he has not portrayed the nature of any particular region. He has tried to depict universal nature in his works.
At the exhibition, his paintings carry his individual signature but some changes from his previous works are clearly noticeable. He is fervently fond of experimenting and trying out new--fangled shapes and techniques. The change is mainly technical and sometimes it seems he is more conscious about the space and compositions. At the exhibition, his canvas appears more vibrant and lively in its slightly cracked surface. The sturdy brushstrokes, vivacious colours, diverse lines, dots and texture that Saleem uses are meant to evoke feelings, sensations and a relationship between human being and nature.
As a pure abstract expressionist, Saleem concentrates on untainted forms and compositions where blazing crimson, emerald green, bright yellow and soothing sapphire have been applied in thick overlapping layers. The painter symbolises nature, with surging colours like ash, azure, white, shades of chocolate-brown and light purple. Large and tiny bars, circles, varied geometric shapes, dashes and round shapes -- merge into each other. At the exhibition, some of his works also signify his fascination with minimal geometric compositions. His works pulsate with highly coloured and tangible tones.
Saleem began his career as a semi-abstract painter. Over time, the painter has refined his technique. As a result, lines in varied shapes, compositions and different types of objects have been added to his works. When the artist first exhibited at the beginning of the 80s at a local gallery in the city, his work was pure abstraction. From the onset of his career, the painter has played with texture and illusion for the paintings' surface effects. Space has been produced on the canvas although some of the colours have appeared flat in his works.
Saleem is a painter who is very conscious about the art movements in different parts of the world. The opportunity to tour many countries (on the occasion of his solo and group shows), roaming their galleries and museums, has allowed Saleem to closely explore the works of the master painters of those countries. In New York, the artist feels that the city has given him many opportunities to explore himself. The artist says that iconic painters Mark Rothko, Barnett Newman and Hans Hofmann give him a taste of liberty and inspire his individuality.
Besides being a good painter, Saleem is also a good technician. He has experimented with techniques and materials to observe their keen effects on canvas. Sometimes it seems he is more conscious about space and forms. The forms give a cerebral and contemplative look into his works. His collages are very expressive due to the effective use of space. Various fragmented forms and scattered forms are visible in his works. His works look very distinctive and imaginative because of his meticulous use of varied forms and deliberate composition. Presently his works can be regarded as abstract- expressionism where forms synchronise deeply with colours, spaces and compositions. His distinctive techniques and compositions allow him to stand apart from his contemporaries.
Saleem is not a figurative painter. He portrays nature and its mysterious phases through his personal notion, experience and thought process. The abstraction in his works is not unpredictable. It comes naturally and he has adopted the language for his unique way of expression. It can be easily said that his collages have been recorded through his inner feelings and intense observation of his living place, life and reminiscence. He uses forms, which bring an animated hallmark to his works. His uses of soft colours and polished brush strokes are simultaneously natural and create a language which is alien to us. His colour is mellow and sometimes bold and appears rich and smooth. His soul is always on the lookout for space where the green, azure, red, crimson, off-white and yellow are filled with great joy and ecstasy.
Born in 1951 in Mymensingh, Saleem graduated in drawing and painting from the Institute of Fine Arts (now Faculty of Fine Arts, University of Dhaka). He took a special course in advanced colour print at the Department of Art and Art Education, New York University. He has held several solo and group exhibitions in different parts of the world and has received a number of prestigious awards. Saleem was awarded Olympic medal and torch as an invited artist from the US at the Beijing Olympic 2008.
