A new solo art exhibition called “Exploring Sacred Beauty: The Spiritual Art of Malay Bala” was unveiled yesterday at La Galerie, Alliance Française de Dhaka. This marks the third solo display by Dr. Malay Bala, an artist and Charukala Professor, showcasing 80 traditional Bengali paintings inspired by spiritual and mythological themes.
The opening event saw the presence of notable figures such as acclaimed photographer Nasir Ali Mamun, distinguished artist Samar Majumder, and writer Sharifa Akhter, all coming together to admire Bala’s artistic and spiritual journey.
Bala’s artworks are steeped in the storytelling traditions of Shakuntala, Dharma, Pobitro Nari (Sacred Women), and Prakriti (Sacred Nature). Through the use of Bengali watercolor, gouache, tempera, and Abanindranath Tagore’s wash technique, the artist explores themes of divine creation, revered figures like Buddha and Krishna, the sacred feminine, and the balance of nature.
Drawing inspiration from indigenous Bengali art principles and organic materials, Bala’s paintings encapsulate the essence of Ananda Coomaraswamy’s concept of Sacred Art and Rabindranath Tagore’s swadeshi ethos, presenting a fresh perspective on traditional Bengali aesthetics.
“I paint to seek, contemplate, and draw closer to the Divine,” expressed Bala. “My heart recognizes the Divine essence within sacred tales, spiritual leaders, Prakriti, and the divine grace embodied by women, which I strive to capture on canvas.”
The exhibition’s curator, Mikhail Idris, a Learning Designer at Learning-Design Studio, highlighted that Bala’s art “reflects a spiritual yearning to illuminate the sacred realms, nature, and beings his heart perceives. His art symbolizes, commemorates, and ponders the Sacred, reigniting the soul’s calling for Divine unity.”
Honoring the memory of the late wood sculptor, freedom fighter, and Ekushey Padak awardee Ferdousi Priyabhashini, the exhibition will run for 11 days, concluding on October 28, 2025.