Local Artist In Regent Park - Muhammad Muzharul Haque

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Muhammad Muzhural Haque is a local artist who has lived in Regent Park for the past 22 years and is deeply engaged in his community. His fascination with the diverse cultures and positive changes within the neighbourhood has inspired his artistic journey. Born and raised in Bangladesh, he cultivated his passion for art there and continued to pursue it as a career after immigrating to Canada. His creations primarily involve mixed media and digital printing, allowing him to bring his ideas and thoughts to vibrant life.  

Once Muhammad and his family came to Canada, his passion for art only grew. As a local artist and resident of Regent Park, he began creating many paintings and artworks for the community. This allowed him to exhibit his work in gallery settings, such as the Rotating Regent Park Art Gallery hosted in the Daniels Presentation Centre in 2018. He also got the opportunity to display his artworks in many of Regent Park's structures, including the Paintbox, the 170 Sumach condominium, and the Du East condominium.

The Paintbox located at 225 Sackville Street displayed several artworks of Muhammad’s in 2012 such as Epitaph, Peacock, Waiting and the Future Series.

In the painting Epitaph, Muhammad depicted a vast field covered with thousands of blooming poppies. This imagery symbolizes the Canadian soldiers who made the ultimate sacrifice during the Second World War. The painting serves as a tribute, ensuring that their memory is preserved and honoured for their brave fight for our country.

The Peacock is situated on the same wall of The Paintbox building as Epitaph. Using realistic semi-abstract and graphic digital media the Peacock had a very authentic look.

The 3ft by 3ft mixed media painting Waiting, portrays a young woman by the window holding a flower in her hand while patiently waiting for her husband to come home from a snowy and cold day.

The Paintbox building also features Muhammad's three-part painting series, 'Future.' Initially designed in abstract digital media, the artworks in front of the elevators are now displayed in plexiglass. In this series, the far right painting symbolizes the past with vibrant colours, the far left represents the present with muted tones, and the middle painting embodies a darker, decaying energy, symbolizing the future.

The 170 Sumach St. apartment building is another condominium in Regent Park that displays Muhammad’s painting, Symphony. This 4ft by 6ft mixed-media painting, completed in 2015, is located in the 3rd-floor amenity room, which includes a piano. The visible guitar and abstract drawings represent rhythm and the flow of music, this way residents can feel connected to the painting as they play music on the piano.

Muhammad's latest artwork is showcased at the DuEast Condominium, located at 225 Sumach Street. The building features two murals, Running Man on one side of the gym and Bicycle Race on the other, both completed in 2020. These murals, designed in a semi-abstract style, add a vibrant touch to the space. The Running Man mural captures the essence of urban life, symbolizing the city's diversity through its blending of tones and lines. It represents the constant hustle of people striving for their health, families, jobs, and lives, always on the move. The Bicycle Race mural illustrates city residents striving for a better life. Despite the dynamic movement and unclear background, the mural creatively represents Toronto using diverse colours. Utilizing a unique medium, incorporating digital media and vinyl printing, enhances the impact of both the Running Man and Bicycle Race artwork.

Muhammad's murals and paintings have been widely shown across the community. He believes that having his works in places like the Paintbox, 170 Sumach, and The Du East has given people and the neighbourhood as a whole a sense of belonging and lightness.

Even now, Muhammad continues to work diligently. He has recently completed a painting titled "Pandemic World." This mixed media artwork depicts the pandemic's various aspects, including the origins, healthcare workers' efforts, global lockdown, and personal tragedies caused by COVID-19. Through the artwork, Muhammad aims to convey the collective struggle and hardship experienced by people worldwide during the pandemic.

Overall, Muhammad Mazharul Haque had a persistent artistic career. He began as an artist in Bangladesh and eventually came to Canada, but he never stopped strengthening his artistry. As a Regent Park resident and local artist for many years now, he is honoured and proud of all his artworks that helped contribute to the community and the opportunities Daniels Corporation and Regent Park have provided for him. Creating a change for everyone in the community.

As for future projects, Muhammad intends to hold a solo art show in Bangladesh in the year 2024. He feels that he has been far away from home for so long and needs to reconnect himself with his home country through his passion for art. Muhammad eventually hopes to display his work and organize exhibitions all around the world.

 

By: Jabin Haque
Jabin is a community journalist with FOCUS MEDIA ARTS CENTRE

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