Opens on Aug 2 until Aug 24, 2025
Upstairs |
Ratul Alam
A Place to Pause
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Acrylic and mixed media on canvas, 101 cm (H) × 81 cm (W), 2025
“A Place to Pause” reflects on the idea of home as something deeply personal, shifting, and emotionally grounded. As someone living away from my country, culture, and language, I’ve often questioned what “home” truly means. Is it a place, a person, or simply a feeling of safety — of being able to be yourself at the most?
Over time, I’ve come to realise that home doesn't have to be grand or permanent. It can be something as quiet and ordinary as a backyard garden or a small patch of green near your house — a space where you can pause, breathe, and feel at ease. For me, this sense of home exists somewhere between nature and the chaos of urban life.
This painting captures a visual memory of such a space — imagined yet familiar. A stony path leads through layered greens and steps toward tall, grounding trees. On one side, a house deck suggests the quiet comfort of domestic life, while the deep green beyond hints at a forest unknown.
It’s a place of stillness and softness. A place to feel safe, to retreat, and to reconnect — with self, memory, and something larger than us.
Over time, I’ve come to realise that home doesn't have to be grand or permanent. It can be something as quiet and ordinary as a backyard garden or a small patch of green near your house — a space where you can pause, breathe, and feel at ease. For me, this sense of home exists somewhere between nature and the chaos of urban life.
This painting captures a visual memory of such a space — imagined yet familiar. A stony path leads through layered greens and steps toward tall, grounding trees. On one side, a house deck suggests the quiet comfort of domestic life, while the deep green beyond hints at a forest unknown.
It’s a place of stillness and softness. A place to feel safe, to retreat, and to reconnect — with self, memory, and something larger than us.
Artist Bio: Ratul Alam is a Bangladeshi-born, Sydney-based visual artist working primarily with acrylic on canvas. His practice has been shaped through ongoing study with experienced educators at hART stART Studio, where he continues to refine his approach to abstraction, colour, and composition. Ratul’s work explores themes of identity, memory, and belonging, often drawing from his cultural background and emotional landscapes. He has exhibited in group shows across Sydney, including at Clifford Chance and The Nest, and was a finalist in the 2024 City of Sydney Art Competition. He is currently preparing for his first solo exhibition in August 2025.
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