You are cordially invited to the opening ceremony of the two-week long exhibition of paintings and photographs entitled HIDDEN CANVAS: Impression of Urban Life by artist Mashiul Chowdhury, at the Dhaka Art Center, on 1st February 2013, at 5:30 pm.

Dr. Dipu Moni, the honorable Foreign Minister, Government of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh, has kindly consented to grace the occasion as the Chief Guest. Artist and Editor of ‘Depart’ Mustafa Zaman will be present as the main discussant.

The function will be presided over by eminent artist Prof. Rafiqun Nabi.

Please visit our page for program photos & artworks.


Artist's Statment

The images you are about to see may look remarkably like fine art, but they are actually photographs of things most of us seeand ignoreevery day. The activities of human life leave traces on various surfacessometimes intentionally, sometimes inadvertentlybut rarely does anyone realize that such markings contain within them an abstract language that can be rich and compelling. I find such images on walls, dumpsters, sidewalks, rusty pipes, subwaysjust about anywhere in the urban landscapeand use digital photography to give them another life. My work is inspired by the natural world. Art has the power to make one see things in a new perspective. It allows us to develop a love for places and things that we would otherwise not have noticed, or thought of as ugly or boring. It helps us discover the beauty of the street art, dumpster and burned buildings. I do not recreate landscape on my canvas. I rather try to express its essence in abstract language.

I grew up in Dhaka, Bangladesh, a self-taught artist who chose medicine as profession. In medical school, I participated in creating an exhibit of posters on contemporary issues that drew wide acclaim in Bangladesh. In Philadelphia, I became an alumnus of the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts and still attends figure-drawing sessions there, as well as at the Philadelphia Sketch Club and the Fleisher Art Memorial. My work has appeared in group shows at PAFA, and first solo exhibit has taken place in September, 2008 in Gould gallery in Ardmore, PA.


Selected Shows :

A juried art competition at Philadelphia Sketch Club
The Annual Domestic DiStefano Memorial Works on Paper Exhibition.
Jan4-27, 2013, Philadelphia, USA

IN PERSON: A celebration of the human form. A Juried Art Exhibition.
Jan13-March 1, 2013,Community Arts Center.
Wallingford, PA, USA

Absolutely Abstract : A juried art competition at Philadelphia Sketch Club
September , 2012. Philadelphia, USA
Awarded Honorable Mention

Open small painting Juried art exhibition at
Philadelphia Sketch Club
February, 2012

Fine Art and Creative Photography National Juried Exhibition.
MFA Circle Gallery. 18 State Circle
Annapolis, MD 21401
May 19 - June 12, 2011

First Friday show at Old City: Five New Artist.
Margot and Camille gallery
October 1st, 2010

2009 Juried Art Photography Exhibit.
Blink Art Gallery. 108 Chestnut Street. Philadelphia, PA,USA.: October 10, 2009.
Second Prize

Gould Art Gallery show.
“Hidden Canvas : Impression of Urban Life”
September 5, 2008
1 West Lancaster Ave,
Ardmore, PA 19003

Juried Art exhibit,2005
Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Art

Poster Exhibition
Three Artist on contemporary social and political issues. 1984.
Dhaka University, Teacher Student Center ( TSC ), Bangladesh