Dreams, reality converge in Zakia Khan Chandana’s latest works

Surrealist artist Zakia Khan Chandana’s third solo exhibition, “Reality of the Subconscious Mind,” is currently underway at Alliance Française de Dhaka, showcasing a compelling collection of paintings that delve into the relationship between consciousness, nature, and human existence.
The exhibition was inaugurated on Friday by eminent artist Monirul Islam and Professor Dr Azharul Islam Sheikh, Dean of the Faculty of Fine Arts at the University of Dhaka, as special guests.
Featuring Zakia’s latest body of work, the exhibition invites visitors into a dreamlike world where reality merges with the subconscious. Through surreal compositions, she combines elements of nature, the human figure, fragmented landscapes, and symbolic imagery to create a distinctive visual language that encourages philosophical reflection on life, transformation, and existence.
Reflecting on her artistic practice, Zakia Khan Chandana said, “Nature serves as the central inspiration for my paintings, through which I explore themes of survival and transformation. The various forms and fragmented landscapes I create attempt to portray the tension between creation and destruction. My works function as visual metaphors for the Earth's constant evolution, encouraging viewers to reflect on change. Through the characteristic textures and brushstrokes ofSurrealist art, I invite audience to contemplate the cycles of life and renewal.” 
A graduate of the Faculty of Fine Arts at the Dhaka University, Zakia Khan Chandana earned her Master’s degree in Fine Arts and has established herself as a notable figure in Bangladesh’s contemporary art scene. She received the Berger Young Artist Award in 1998 and the Departmental Award for Experimental Art in 2000. Her first solo exhibition was held at Zainul Gallery in 2002.
Executed in acrylic on canvas, the paintings employ a restrained palette of browns, ochers, oranges, off-whites, blacks, and blues, creating an evocative atmosphere. Art critic Zahid Mostafa describes Zakia’s return after a prolonged absence as a significant contribution to Bangladesh’s contemporary art landscape, praising her surreal interpretation of nature, transformation, and existence. 
The exhibition is open to visitors daily from 3:00pm to 9:00pm and will continue until 8 July.