Artist Pradyut Kumar Das is turning heads in the Dhaka art scene with his powerful solo exhibition titled Searching Light, currently on display at Gallery Bhumi in Lalmatia. Organised by Gallery Shilpangan, the exhibition features a collection of 100 deeply emotive works — 65 paintings and 35 sculptures — that explore the often-unseen struggles and quiet resilience of low-income and working-class people in Bangladesh.
Das’s paintings, created primarily by burning plastic wood, evoke textures that capture the psychological weight of modern life. His artwork is rich with symbolism, illustrating the loneliness and silent despair experienced in a capitalist society. Yet, they also reflect a certain dignity and enduring hope in the face of hardship. Village women gathering water, fishermen at rest, and solitary figures surrounded by vast emptiness — each piece brings to light stories etched in the lives of people often overlooked.
“My art reflects people’s dreams and struggles that I have collected from the soil,” said Pradyut, reflecting on the roots of his work. “This exhibition is just a limited expression of a boundless journey in search of the meaning of life.”
The sculptures in the exhibition stand out for their raw portrayal of daily realities — flute players, labourers, middle-class families, and animals appear in forms that resonate with both emotion and detail. Each sculpture becomes a narrative, inviting viewers into intimate moments of routine existence.
The 12-day exhibition was inaugurated on April 25 by renowned artist Hamiduzzaman Khan. Poet-artist Mustafa Zaman, director of the fine arts department at Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy, and Gita Das, president of Naripokkho, also attended the opening as special guests. The exhibition is open to visitors until May 6.
In a notable visit to the exhibition, the Chief Curator and Founder of HerNet Fine Arts and HerNet Foundation expressed profound appreciation for Pradyut’s work. Speaking at the gallery, she emphasized the vital role that art and culture play in preserving human emotion, inspiring societal progress, and giving a voice to the marginalized. “Art is not just a reflection of our time; it is a declaration of who we are and who we aspire to become,” she said. “Pradyut’s work reminds us that even in silence and struggle, there is beauty, meaning, and resilience.”
The exhibition Searching Light continues to draw audiences who seek not just visual aesthetics but meaningful engagement with the realities of life and society.