Firoz Mahmud, From the series 'Distance from the Past', 2013 - 2014, Mixed media drawing on handmade paper [Halite (NaCl), bound dry ink, acrylic, pigments, water and pencil], 43.2 x 63.5 cm, © Firoz Mahmud, Courtesy of Ota Fine Arts, Singapore/Shanghai/Tokyo

Drawing Reverberation is a solo exhibition featuring paintings, drawings and wood carving works made in recent years by artist Firoz Mahmud. While currently based in New York City, Mahmud (b. 1974) continues to draw artistic themes from the history of the Bangladeshi region in which he is deeply rooted. To ponder and recognize the relevance of these themes, Ota Fine Arts Singapore presents a survey of the artist’s recent practice.

A distinct number of Mahmud’s works look at Uponibeshik (colonial) and Poruponibeshik (post-colonial) narratives of Bangladesh and its capital city of Dhaka which was formerly known as Jahangir Nagar. Many historical cities have been transformed by colonialism. Traitor of Faith [Plot 2 #Shiraj & Mir] (2010) is based on the long battle between the Nawab of Bengal and the British East Indian Company during the rule of the Mughal Empire. This, and other works by Firoz Mahmud are largely informed by his ongoing interest in historical narratives and artistic devices in story-telling. The artist deforms the borders of the frames, giving the canvases uneven edges as part of his desire to deconstruct the idea of painting.

Venue: Ota Fina Arts, 7 Lock Road, #02-13 Gillman Barracks

When: 16 Nov 2018 - 5 Jan 2019,

By: Ota Fine Arts