The second solo art exhibition of artist Md Ziaur Rahman, titled "Inner Speed," is all set to begin at Alliance Francaise de Dhaka (AFD) on Friday.

The exhibition's opening ceremony will be held on Friday, May 24 at 5:30 pm at AFD's La Galerie.

Professor Mohammad Eunus, Chairman of the Art Bangla Foundation; artist Ranjit Das; art critic Moinuddin Khaled; Bangladesh Supreme Court Senior Advocate Nahid Mahtab; and Moin Foundation's Founder Muntasir Moin will attend the opening ceremony as special guests.

Artist Md Ziaur Rahman was born and raised near the banks of the Shitalakshya River and the Narayanganj railway station. His lifelong endeavour has been to understand both people and nature, as nature is his greatest source of inspiration.

Ziaur takes all kinds of elements from nature with great care and understanding through his artistic perception, and then he arranges those pleasingly in his painting. He completed his graduation in drawing and painting from Narayanganj Fine Arts College and later secured a Master's in the same field from UODA.

'Inner Speed' marks the artist's second exhibition, following his first solo show titled 'Nirvadhi' at the Chap Gallery in Narayanganj in 2009.

The exhibition 'Inner Speed' evokes the dream of transformation, reflecting the various harmonies and conflicts within society, the good and the bad, that provoke deep contemplation. Like everyone else, Ziaur Rahman has experienced moments that leave an indelible mark, and his work represents an effort to transcend these moments.

He consistently grapples with his reality through his art, employing diverse mediums such as watercolour, oil, charcoal, acrylic, ink, and cotton. The dynamism of nature particularly moves him, and he often finds inspiration in the movement of bulls and horses-even the monsoon rains, with their inherent speed, stir his creativity.

Drawing these powerful animals uplifts him when he feels low, as their dynamic forms inspire dreams and emotional resilience. Motion, in any form, captivates him, and he seeks to express this inner movement through his use of colours and lines.

Rahman has profoundly connected his emotional expression to the depiction of horses and bulls; their varied postures captivate his artistic meditation, revealing his dedication and commitment to his subjects. To Ziaur, horses and bulls symbolise the essence of life, embodying strength and speed.

His focus on these powerful animals suggests a deeper exploration of their life force. A bull's still gaze combines an unsettling mix of pity and fear for the viewer, while Rahman's fascination lies with the fierce bull, symbolising raw power and vitality.

Ziaur Rahman does not idealise the horse as a bloodthirsty creature; he sees it as a symbol of an invincible spirit; he portrays the horse as a free, powerful being not through its natural anatomy but through its essence. The horse, often perceived as a moving force in human consciousness, is depicted by Rahman in a state of liberated fury, breaking free from physical constraints.

'Inner Speed' will welcome the visitors at AFD till Tuesday, June 4, Monday to Saturday, from 3:00 pm to 9:00 pm.