Artist Laila Sharmeen has said that she wants to create empathy for nature through art.

‘We have to consider the Earth as one big country. We have to love and appreciate nature and take care of it. I want to convey the message that a person should not prioritise material possessions over relationships and nature and s/he must try to live in harmony with nature. I want to create empathy for nature through art,’ said Laila Sharmeen, who held her solo art exhibition titled Golden Bengal at the Alliance Française de Dhaka in Dhanmondi after over a decade-long hiatus.

The artist did not organise any solo exhibitions after 2010 because she moved to Canada with her family.

‘After organising my solo exhibition in 2010, my family shifted to Canada due to our daughter’s education. I participated in several international group art shows and festivals in Europe and America while staying in Canada,’ mentioned Laila Sharmeen.

‘After we moved to Canada, we had to adjust in a new environment and take care of many things. I did create a few artworks while participating in a few festivals and art camps abroad but I did not organise a solo exhibition displaying those artworks because they were created for different art events. That is why it took me more than a decade to organise another solo exhibition in Bangladesh,’ said Laila.

‘No matter where I am in the world, I will always create artworks depicting Bangladesh. To me, Bangladesh is a holy land because our loved ones are sleeping here. I am not a rich person. If I had money, I would have built hospitals for the underprivileged people of the country,’ said Laila, who also said that Golden Bengal received a good response from the audience.

‘I am really happy because “Golden Bengal” has received a good response from the audience. I will continue to work hard to create empathy for nature and country through art,’ said Laila.

‘My paintings are based on literature and philosophy. I used to secretly read story books as a child because my parents did not want me to read too many books outside of syllabus. We had a big library in our house in Gendaria. I learnt moral values at home and school. Besides, I also grew up amidst greenery. Therefore, I dream of a utopia where people live in harmony with nature,’ she added.

‘In Canada, my memories of  the green colourful leaves, flowers, kites, rivers, cannel, ponds, old houses, banana trees and the poems I read in my childhood inspired me to pursue a new style. I combined the colours of spring in Canada with my golden memories of Bangladesh in my paintings,’ she said.

The artist encourages all to dream of living in a greener world.

‘The idea of the consumer capitalism has spread across the world.  As a result, we have forgotten the importance or rivers and mountains. Today, we are destroying the environment and strangling nature. As a result, temperature of earth is rising. We have to take steps to prevent global warming. I urge all to dream of living in a greener world,’ she ended.