I am Tanjim Chowdhury, an artist originally from Bangladesh and currently based in Rennes, France.
Date of creation: November 2015
Dimensions: 90 cm x 60 cm
Technique(s) used: Acrylic paint on canvas
This work represents a woman surrounded by flowers, painted in a Western style. The inspiration for this painting comes from a story from my childhood, told by my grandmother, about two sisters who once lived in our village. One of the sisters, named “Phool Kumari”, particularly struck me with her name and personality, and it is she who inspired this work.Women are the source of supremacy and the regulators of the world in the sagas. They are the symbol of benevolence and generosity, while being goddesses of perfection, but can also become destroyers when needed.
Date of creation: December 2020
Dimensions: 300 cm x 50 cm x 250 cm
Technique(s) used: Clay
This work is an installation composed of clay dolls, inspired by traditional dolls from Bangladesh. My headless dolls reflect the social pressure on women to embody the ideal of the submissive woman without a will of her own. To receive compliments as an ideal and kind woman, it is often expected to have no thoughts of her own and to be controlled by someone else. On the other hand, if a woman tries to protest or make her own decisions, she is often labeled as disobedient.
Among these dolls, only one has a head, but it is faceless and wears a crown of thorns… Read more
This symbolizes that in order to make her own decisions and act on her own desires, a woman must be willing to suffer, to be insulted by others, and to take responsibility for protecting herself.
Date of creation: September 2014
Dimensions: 105 cm x 90 cm
Technique(s) used: Oil and acrylic painting on canvas
This artwork explores the deep connection between women and nature. Women, like nature, emerge, rise, live and disappear within it. Sometimes fresh as trees, fertile as the earth, magnificent as flowers, immense as the sky, they illustrate this intimate connection. The artwork depicts two friends dancing in early spring. The bright colors and patterns capture the joy of spring and flowers, imagining music emanating from the whisper of leaves. It is inspired by the cultural context of Bangladesh, mixing impressionism and influences from Georges Seurat.
Date of creation: May 2015
Dimensions: 60 cm x 90 cm
Technique(s) used: Acrylic paint on canvas
This still life presents a traditional doll from Bangladesh, dressed in a western dress decorated with Jamdani patterns, a traditional and prominent textile in Bangladesh. In my work, I mix cultures, because having grown up in Bangladesh, my country of origin, I now live in France. I adapt to European culture while preserving my originality.
Date of Creation: November 2020
Dimensions: 10 cm x 7 cm
Technique(s) Used: Watercolor on Paper
This work depicts a Bangladeshi woman checking social media. The inspiration for this painting came from a drawing by renowned Bangladeshi artist Kamrul Hasan. During the COVID pandemic, we were isolated from each other, and social media was the only way to monitor each other’s lives. The colors and details of the work are meant to reflect the importance of virtual connection during times of isolation.
Date of creation: December 2021
Dimensions: 10 cm x 150 cm x 5 cm
Technique(s) used: Mixed media
This work represents a collection of jewelry made from screws, pins, nails, cans and ceramics… Read more
These raw and sharp materials disrupt the traditional idea of jewelry as a simple beauty accessory to make it a tool of defense. These jewels are not only decorative, but function as a real armor. Through this work, I propose that jewelry is not only an ornament, but also an instrument of protection, offering mental and physical security to women.
Date of creation: March 2021
Dimensions: 20 cm x 15 cm
Technique(s) used: Aquatint
This work represents a self-portrait inspired by the famous painting “Girl with a Pearl Earring” by Vermeer. Using the technique of aquatint, I sought to capture the light, expression and serenity that characterize the original work, while integrating personal elements to reflect my own vision and personality.
Date of creation: December 2015
Dimensions: 228.6 cm x 304.8 cm
Technique(s) used: Acrylic paint on fabric, canvas and sand
Since the dawn of time, we have conceptualized some sort of reflection of our thoughts, emotions, wishes and experiences. This same technique has been applied to my work. Dreams inspire us to free our imagination and reflect on our passions, fears and desires.
The ocean is a feminine symbol that connects us to our divine feminine nature. Associated with compassion, creativity and intuition, water reminds us that we are all connected energetically and through water itself.
Dreaming of the ocean invites us to get in touch with our deeper selves and connect to our true nature.
Date of creation: May 2022
Dimensions: Diameter 10 cm
Technique(s) used: Ink pen on wood
A central element of my artistic approach is the portrait of a faceless woman, adorned with a crown of thorns, drawn on the wood of a Mont d’Or cheese box with an ink pen. This unexpected material, discovered during my volunteer work at the Red Cross in food distribution, deeply inspired me. The broken knot of this wood symbolizes the breakages and constraints imposed on women.
A central element of my artistic approach is the portrait of a faceless woman, adorned with a crown of thorns, drawn on the wood of a Mont d’Or cheese box with an ink pen. This unexpected material, discovered during my volunteer work at the Red Cross in food distribution, deeply inspired me. The broken knot of this wood symbolizes the fractures and constraints imposed on women.
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This work questions the roles assigned to women in Bangladeshi society. In Bangladesh, most women are homemakers and spend a lot of time preparing meals for their families, often without recognition or respect. Through this portrait, I wish to highlight their invisibility and undervalued contribution.
Date of creation: May 2024
Dimensions: 180 cm x 60 cm
Technique(s) used: Mixed media
This work represents a panoramic collage of the city of Rennes. While walking around the city center, I took photos of the architecture, especially the half-timbered buildings. I then printed these photos, cut out the parts that interested me and pasted them with elements of modern buildings. Some parts were hand drawn to create a unique composition. I also used watercolor paint on the photos, merging the different architectural styles to capture the dynamic and historical essence of Rennes.
Date of creation: December 2013
Dimensions: 30.48 cm x 25.4 cm
Technique(s) used: Engraving (wood cut)
Date of creation: December 2013
Dimensions: 25.4 cm x 35.56 cm
Technique(s) used: Collage
This work represents a still life composed of different objects such as vegetables, glass bottles, fabrics and porcelain, made from various types of collaged paper. The varied textures and materials bring a unique visual richness, highlighting the diversity and beauty of everyday objects.
Date of creation: June 2015
Dimensions: 90 cm x 75 cm
Technique(s) used: Acrylic paint on canvas
This still life represents various objects symbolizing the escape from urban tumult, noise and monotonous life. My work expresses the aspiration to return to a natural rural environment, rich in greenery. This is the central theme of my art.
Date of creation: July 2021
Dimensions: 10 cm x 7 cm
Technique(s) used: Watercolor on marble
This work represents the corridor of the Besançon Museum of Fine Arts, a significant source of inspiration during my first visit to France in late March 2018. Although the museum was under renovation at the time and I was unable to enter, its architecture deeply intrigued me. After a few months, I had the opportunity to return to France and, in November 2019, I was finally able to visit the museum. This watercolor captures the essence of this long-awaited moment.
Date of creation: May 2024
Dimensions: 20 cm x 20 cm
Technique(s) used: Acrylic paint
This work depicts a mother with her child, painted in an Indian style. The bright colours and traditional motifs aim to capture the essence of the maternal relationship in the cultural context of India… Read more
Date of creation: March 2014
Dimensions: 60 cm x 45 cm
Technique(s) used: Oil and acrylic paint on canvas
I created my self-portrait, representing myself as a native Indian woman. This work reflects the various thoughts that constantly haunt my mind and my desire to return to a primitive society devoid of complexity.
Under the influence of urban modernity, we forget our own existence…
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Date of Creation: March 2015
Dimensions: 90 cm x 55 cm
Technique(s) Used: Oil and Acrylic Painting on Canvas
Childhood memories are precious treasures for every individual. Handmade clay dolls, cars, toys and many other things symbolize this period of life. They remind me of those golden days.
In this work, the presence of natural landscapes refers to the rural environment where I grew up, immersed in the beauty of nature. I have used Jamdani Sari patterns on the tablecloth, a traditional and prominent textile in Bangladesh, representing the prosperity of Bengali culture. The small footprints evoke nostalgia and the desire to return to those golden days.