Alliance Française de Dhaka opened Splendor of Green, the first solo painting exhibition of artist Suborno Chakraborty Tonmoy, curated by Sumon Wahed, on Tuesday at La Galerie, Alliance Française de Dhaka.

The exhibition brings together paintings inspired by leaves, flowers and grass, exploring their varied forms, structures, colours and subtle rhythms. The opening ceremony was attended by eminent artist Jamal Ahmed, Honorary Professor, Department of Drawing & Painting, Faculty of Fine Art, University of Dhaka, and Professor Sheikh Afzal Hossain, Department of Drawing & Painting, Faculty of Fine Art, University of Dhaka, as distinguished guests. 

Tonmoy’s interest in the natural world developed during the COVID-19 pandemic, when lockdown restrictions brought a slower pace of human activity and gave him an opportunity to notice his surroundings differently. The diversity of plants and the distinctive characteristics of leaves gradually captured his attention and became an important direction in his artistic practice.

His paintings emerge from sustained study of these details, particularly the subtle variations of colour and form. Through experimentation with colour combinations and layered shades, he seeks to translate the complexity he encounters in leaves onto the canvas. This process of looking closely and painting from observation has become central to his work.

With Splendor of Green, Tonmoy also seeks to encourage a renewed appreciation of the natural environment. By drawing attention to details that can often go unnoticed, the exhibition invites viewers to consider the diversity and significance of the world around them.

About the Artist

Suborno Chakraborty Tonmoy is a Dhaka-based contemporary painter. He completed his B.F.A. (2022) and M.F.A. (2024) from the Faculty of Fine Art, University of Dhaka. His practice focuses on nature, particularly the forms and colours of plants and leaves, and spans painting, drawing and research across oil, acrylic, watercolour and pencil. He received the Media Best Award in Watercolor at the Annual Art Exhibition of the Department of Drawing & Painting, University of Dhaka (2023), and the Grand Award at the 26th Berger Young Painters’ Art Competition (2021). He currently works as a freelance artist.