Nazia Andaleeb Preema (Bangladesh) Residence: September, 2016
Nazia Andaleeb Preema, a prolific and prominent visual artist of Bangladesh received her Master’s in ‘Drawing and Painting’ from the University of Dhaka in 2000. Her constant endeavor to attain versatility in her work is apparent in her passion for new media, technique and experimentation. She has incorporated new media (performance, video installation and digital art) to connect more with her work.
She has participated in a number of competitive art residency programs, workshops and has been awarded major international grants to pursue her works throughout her career since 1999. Preema, the widely traveled artist, has also received recognition both domestically and internationally for her experimentation on various media. Along with 18 solo (Bangladesh, India, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Japan, USA, UK, Turkey, Morocco, Uzbekistan) expositions, she participated in 6 Asian Art Biennale, 2 Tashkent Biennale, Istanbul Biennale, Venice International Art Expo (2010, 2012, 2014) along with prestigious art fairs (Art Basel Miami, Tuyup Art Fair/Istanbul, Dubai Art Festival, Dhaka Art Summit, Delhi International Art Festival). Her work has been recognized for its innovative approach, distinct technique and lyrical overtones. Her canvases reveal a personal narrative that can be extended to the depiction of a larger situation. Presently her canvases and video installations indicate pleasure and celebration of freedom of life, beauty and the act of making a mark, all which is essential to transform a work of art into an idea that lasts forever. Her creations span over genres, ranging from traditional to digital, to performances. She is in pursuit of constantly test her limits as an artist.
She feels inspired by Japanese authentic culture, their practices and ancient heritage. She found Studio Kura is exciting in isolation to explore the artists from different parts of the world. The green paddy field, calmness of life, tranquil and unpredictable nature, all are very engaging to her soul. ‘I constantly search for those people and places who can connect to my soul. In “Studio Kura’ at Itoshima, I found that connection with the surrounding. The light, rain, green, long distant mountains, beaches inspire me to recreate my inner spirit. So that I forget all those things that bothered me in my urban life. I am reunited to my existence to feel the creative force in me. I am mesmerize again by the power of simplicity, by the melancholy, by the intense and exotic quality of life.’
‘Ichi go ichi e’
– Nazia Andaleeb Preema’s website
