A single dot a day. That was the promise Dr Abu Kalam Shamsuddin made to himself when he began his PhD, determined not to let academic demands pull him away from painting.
Years later, that commitment has found expression in an exhibition that confronts the turmoil within us and the courage it takes to keep creating.
Titled The Song of Agony: Arishadvarga, the exhibition at La Galerie, Alliance Française de Dhaka, explores six inner enemies: lust, anger, greed, arrogance, addiction and jealousy.
Shamsuddin has dedicated the show to his students, hoping to inspire young people facing a question that has long troubled aspiring artists: can a life devoted to art also offer a future?
For Shamsuddin, the exhibition carries a personal significance beyond its central theme. When he began his PhD, people questioned why he needed the degree and whether academic commitments would eventually take him away from painting.
He responded by promising to paint every day throughout his doctoral studies, even if he could manage only a single dot.
After completing his PhD, he wanted his final report to take the form of an exhibition. The Song of Agony: Arishadvarga became the outcome of that commitment, bringing his academic journey and artistic perseverance together.
“I dedicated this to my students,” Shamsuddin said.
The exhibition invites visitors to look beyond the surface of a painting and engage with the ideas beneath it.
He believes viewers should connect those ideas with their own experiences, allowing the artwork to prompt reflection that continues beyond the gallery walls.
For him, commercial success is not the only measure of an artist’s worth. The ability to reach people and help them recognise something of themselves in a painting matters more than the number of works sold.
“It is too tough to decide the success and failure of an artist,” he said.
That belief informs his concern for young artists who fear that pursuing their passion may leave them without viable career prospects.
Shamsuddin believes institutions such as Alliance Française de Dhaka can help by providing platforms for emerging artists to showcase their work and connect with audiences.
“People mostly think, where would I go as an artist? That’s the biggest fear,” he said.
His advice to aspiring artists is to pursue education, deepen their knowledge and develop practical skills. Bangladesh, he believes, offers considerable opportunities to those willing to work towards their goals.
Ultimately, The Song of Agony: Arishadvarga brings together reflections on human nature and the persistence required to pursue an artistic ambition.
Through its dedication to students, the exhibition also offers encouragement to those still finding their way.
The exhibition remains open until October 13, from 3pm to 9pm, at La Galerie, Alliance Française de Dhaka.
