Junko Okamoto's art features fragmented memories of the past with an urge to embrace tranquility of the soft moonlight.

A weeklong solo exhibition featuring the works of Japanese artist Junko Okamoto is on at Zainul Gallery, Faculty of Fine Arts (FFA),University of Dhaka. The exhibition was inaugurated on August 1.

Forty five artworks, including wax coated dye colour on paper, colour pencil and mixed media, are on display at the exhibition.

The Japanese style of artwork boasts of exquisite perfection in its lines, forms and textures. Junko's works are no exception. Her style of symbolising moonlight on a golden touch is really mesmerising. The walk over the night sky that is far away from the earth is actually the artist's imaginary artistic domain that she looks or longs for. The soft moonlight has clearly cast an impression on her psyche.

Through her journey to the world of realism, Junko depicts settlements of nature like birds and fish. The shapes of buildings and human figures may also be found in her works. But an art connoisseur may interpret the abstract stories of her artworks.

The way she depicts "The moon of the sea" through a narrow passage is, in a word, superb. But a close look on the shadow of night reveals an obscure portrait that might be a distant memory. The moon that jumps out of the artist's window is not lonely at all as an overjoyed artist accompanies her. Again, the artist loves the blue moon that seemingly denotes the subtle colour of her solitude. On the whole, her art features fragmented memories of the past along with an urge to embrace tranquility of the soft moonlight.

The artist had also held two group exhibitions at Zainul Gallery back in 2008 and in 2009. At those exhibitions, she showcased contemporary paintings at the gallery.

Born in Yokohama, Kanagawa, Japan in 1972, Junko Okamoto graduated from Tokyo Designer Institute in 1994. The artist is an architect and a designer by profession. Her passion for art developed later.

Apart from holding this solo exhibition in Bangladesh, she displayed her solo works at Chuwa Gallery, Ginza, Tokyo, Japan three years in a row starting from 2008.She also participated in several group exhibitions that were held at different galleries of Tokyo, Japan during 2008-2010.

The exhibition at FFA is open from 2-8pm everyday and ends today.

GS Kabir, a Bangladesh artist who did his PhD (2003) from Tokyo National University of Fine Arts and Music, is the organiser of the exhibition.