LAHORE, Feb 5: A paintings’ exhibition by Muhammad Eunus, a Bangladeshi artist, who is also an associate professor, Institute of Fine Arts in the University of Dhaka, opened here on Monday at the Hamail Art Galleries (off M M Alam Road, Gulberg-III).

Punjab Cooperatives Minister Malik Muhammad Anwar Khan was the chief guest at the exhibition, which is to continue till

Feb 15.

Muhammad Eunus compares his work to that of a poem having a million metaphors and says that his paintings come ‘alive’ with universal energy that can be felt by an observer. He professes that his inspiration for work comes to him from almost anything from guitars, humans, fishes, clouds, melodies, songs and even stories.

Eunus continues to sketch and experiment with his beliefs, emotions and passions and strongly believes that his paintings themselves are like a dance that flow effortlessly and naturally.

Speaking of the gallery, Eunus said that he liked it very much. “I have visited many galleries but I found this one more than satisfactory especially because all of my 56 paintings have been accommodated here. The gallery is spacious and it has been a good experience so far. Also, I am happy as many visitors have appreciated my work.”

The semi-abstract paintings on display are eye-catching and each has a title to provide the viewer a clue into the world created by the artist. Muhammad Eunus is in Lahore to display his work of 36 years and says that he is always experimenting with his ideas. In the near future he wants to change the themes of his paintings, which still might have some similarity with the present ones.

This is the first time that Muhammad Eunus is exhibiting his work here but it is his 39th solo exhibition. Eunus has done his post-graduation course in fine arts from Japan and, according to Sadeq Khan, the artist was presumably very much inspired by Japanese rock gardens.

“Eunus has made many variations with structural pattern but his thematic strain, whatever the title in any particular piece of work, has remained free-style geometric mysticism of visual meditation”.

Last month, Eunus took part in a group exhibition held in Karachi and had not visited the place himself. However, he has enjoyed his stay in Lahore so far. Eunus likes the calligraphy practiced in Pakistan as there are very few calligraphers in Bangladesh. His own work having diverse variations and titles from ‘pigeon in rest’, ‘orchestra with red and yellow’, ‘kites’, ‘river view’, ‘landscape’, ‘hope comes and goes’, ‘cactus valley’, ‘dancing peacock’, et cetera are either oil or mixed media on canvas. The price ranges from the highest priced at 155,000 to the lowest being 45,000.

A viewer, Rifat Saeed, said that he liked the visuals of the paintings. “The bright colours of the paintings lift one’s mood and the artist seems to be inspired by the flora and fauna of Bangladesh”.

Another Japanese spectator, Miyakoshi, a systems engineer by profession, said that the scenes of many paintings of Eunus’ are similar to that of the Pakistani environment and personally he found them very attractive.