A visitor at the exhibition by Aminul Haque at Gallery Artists’ Guild in Guwahati. Picture by Eastern Projections

Art lovers in Guwahati got a rare treat last week when Gallery Artists’ Guild showcased paintings — oils, acrylics and watercolours, pen & ink — by Aminul Haque, a painter of the senior batch in Assam.

The event was significant as Haque’s paintings were exhibited in the city after a gap of 23 years. His last solo exhibition was held at the Academy of Fine Arts in Calcutta in 1996 and had fetched him critical acclaim and rave reviews. Why did it take him so long to showcase his next set of paintings? He prefers to be slow and steady, says Haque, who is as passionate about his work as he is shy.

The exhibition, titled Visual Melody, was held from February 17 to 23. It displayed Haque’s 24 new creations in four different mediums. Of his six oils, special mention must be made of The Spring, A Night View and Hilly Breeze for subtle use of colour and sensitive compositions.

The Spring depicts three women in the midst of a forest. With gloomy faces and indifferent expressions, they are looking at a colourful flower on a tree.

The background of a paddy field in yellow is extremely striking. Spring is here, but the women are not yet prepared to enjoy nature. Patches of faded red, blue and yellow carry the essence of subtlety. A Night View is an example of Haque’s brilliance in creating different tones with a single colour.

The dark sky with a crescent moon meets the huge river. The composition’s unique textural effect in blue is haunting. Even the crescent moon in the sky and the portion of the boat on the river, painted in faded white, do not disturb the enchanting blue.

Haque’s acrylics are comparatively more vibrant and sparkling. Of the nine on display, mention must be made of Divine Tune, Eve of Separation, The Old Melodies and Melody Mood. Each of these paintings portray the artist’s sensitivity and use of vibrant colours to create anxiety, agony and ecstasy. Moreover, one can feel his passion for music in his works.

The eight watercolours on display were delightful. Especially the one titled Wild Bloomings. It shows a colourful female face amid blooming flowers in a forest. The assimilation of the main figure with the component elements brings a sort of movement to the entire composition.

“Human concern is the principal motif of my approach to art. It really haunts me. My work is an attempt to reflect this human concern,” Haque signs off.