A solo exhibition titled “In the Quest of Tranquillity” by noted artist Maksuda Iqbal Nipa is currently underway at Gallery Kalidas in the Korean Export Processing Zone (KEPZ) in Chittagong.

The exhibition was recently inaugurated by Ambassador Farooq Sobhan.

Among those present at the opening ceremony were Kihak Sung, chairman and chief executive officer of Youngone Corporation, and Chung Sye-kyun, along with ambassadors from various countries. The exhibition will remain open until February 28.

Recognised as a committed painter since the late 1990s, Nipa has developed a distinct artistic language marked by layered colour, texture and abstraction. Her works reflect a deep engagement with colour as both a visual and expressive medium, often drawing inspiration from nature and the subtleties of the surrounding environment.

Blending emotion with intellect, her paintings are influenced by abstract expressionism and are characterised by dynamic textures and vibrant shades. The use of layered colour creates depth and movement, lending her canvases a luminous quality.

Nature remains a central source of inspiration in Nipa’s practice. Through transient impressions of the natural world, she explores themes of beauty, human perception and harmony. Her evolving style has gradually moved from traditional approaches toward non-figurative abstraction.

Emphasising spatial composition and surface texture, Nipa’s works aim to communicate emotion through universally accessible visual language while maintaining a non-representational form.

The exhibition presents a series of recent works that highlight her ongoing exploration of colour, texture and psychological narratives through abstraction.

The writer is an art critic and cultural curator.