Exhibition
55 Bangladeshi self-taught artists to join Victory Day art exhibition in Dubai
To celebrate the 51st Victory Day of Bangladesh, 55 Bangladeshi and 20 international artists will participate in a special group art exhibition at Dubai International Art Center (DIAC) in the UAE from December 12 to 21.
The 10-day art exhibition, "Bijoy" is organised by Funun Arts of the UAE and Mahfuz Canvas of Bangladesh.
The participating self-taught artists will showcase their work, depicting that art is beyond borders, according to the organisers.
Read: ‘Evolution’: Abdullah Al Bashir’s second solo exhibition begins at AFD
The Consul General of Bangladesh in Dubai and the Northern Emirates BM Jamal Hossain and Emirati entrepreneur and Chairman of Al Zarooni Foundation Suhail Mohd Al Zarooni, a renowned Emirati collector and Guinness Book World Record holder, will inaugurate the art event.
PowerPac, a concern of Sikder Group, is the title sponsor of the exhibition.
"We are proud to sponsor this special tribute exhibition to the Victory of Bangladesh, with a specific focus on encouraging artists to improve their creations by giving them a global platform and encouraging them to honour the cultures of Bangladesh and history through their artworks," according to PowerPac.
Read: Photo exhibition by Mongol Deep Foundation begins in city
Mahfuzur Rahman, the founder of Mahfuz Canvas, said this endeavour is their greatest international achievement yet, and this is the largest overseas self-taught Bangladeshi artists' art exhibition to date.
Shiba Khan and Farah Khan, founders of Funun Arts, one of the most vibrant art platforms in the UAE, said they aim to represent art and bring talents to light. "Artists are also given complete freedom to present themselves in their ways."
'The Story of Hajong Tale' at JU draws to a close
A five-day photo exhibition on the life, norms, culture, festivals and stories of the Hajong people, an ethnic group from northern parts of Bangladesh, ended at the Jahangirnagar University (JU) Saturday.
"The Story of Hajong Tale" by Ruposhree Hajong, a masters student of the fine arts department of JU, started Tuesday to let people know more about the ways of Hajong – mainly living in Haluaghat and Dhobaura of Mymensingh; Shribordi, Jhinaigati and Nalitabari of Sherpur; Sunamganj Sadar upazila, Dhorompasha, Taherpur, Bishwambharpur and Duarabazar of Sunamganj – life.
Twenty-four photos were showcased at The Story of Hajong Tale.
Bangladesh's Meghla scores first prize at Dubai ASAS Art Exhibition
Bangladeshi artist Jannatul Fardous Meghla scooped up the first prize at the first Annual Student Art Show (ASAS) in the UAE's Dubai.
Organised by UAE-based Art Group Funun Arts at De Montfort University, 320 student artists from 60 nationalities participated in ASAS from November 4-6, focusing on 16 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Artist Meghla won the first prize in the third category for her painting "Give Clean Water," which was based on SDG Goal 6: Clean water and sanitation. She is now pursuing her BSc in architecture from North South University.
Also, another Bangladeshi calligraphy artist Shamsunnahar Tasnim, a tenth-grader at Jannatul Banat Madrasha in Dhaka, received an award for her Arabic calligraphy on SDG Goal 3: Good health and well-being.
The event was inaugurated by entrepreneur and Chairman of the Al Zarooni Foundation Suhail Mohd Al Zarooni, also a renowned Emirati collector and Guinness Book World Record holder, and Ahmad Al Awadhi Rukni, a renowned Emirati artist.
Read: GENTLE GRASS: Faroque unveils his world in first solo exhibition in Dhaka
The founder of Funun Arts Shiba Khan and Farah Khan initiated this large-scale student art show and the inaugural edition welcomed 26 self-taught artists from Bangladesh under the mentorship of artist Mahfuzur Rahman through Mahfuz Canvas.
Who was the world’s first named author?
In all of recorded history, she was the first author to be given a name. Furthermore, the poet-princess-priestess was not a Greek historical figure.
According to Sidney Babcock, curator of the recently inaugurated exhibition “She Who Wrote: Enheduanna and Women of Mesopotamia, ca 3400-2000 BC” at New York City’s Morgan Library, “When people ask who the first author is, they never guess anyone in Mesopotamia, and it’s never a woman.”
He claims that most of the time, they refer to an ancient Greek figure, according to a BBC special feature. If they do refer to a female author, it’s Sappho, who lived more than a millennium later and whose writings survive less than those of Mesopotamia’s Enheduanna.
Read more: Female artists dominate the Venice Biennale for 1st time
You won’t be the only one if you haven’t heard of her. Up until 1927, Enheduanna was completely unknown to modern society. However, Sir Leonard Woolley, an archaeologist, discovered items that bear her name. As the high priestess of the moon deity Nanna-Suen, she wrote 42 temple hymns and three stand-alone poems that scholars consider to be important contributions to Mesopotamia’s literary legacy, much like the “Epic of Gilgamesh” (which is not credited to a specific author). Her name in Sumerian means “Ornament of Heaven”, the BBC feature says.
Enheduanna was a political figure in addition to being a religious leader and priestess. She was also the daughter of Sargon the Great, who some historians believe to be the one who established the first empire in world history. She was particularly important in bringing Akkad, the northern Mesopotamian region where Sargon initially attained power, together before he later conquered the southern Sumerian city-states. She did this by emphasising the connections between the rituals and beliefs associated with the Akkadian goddess Ishtar and the Sumerian goddess Inanna in her literary and religious hymns and songs, thereby establishing a shared set of beliefs throughout the empire. Enheduanna composed 42 hymns for as many temples in the southern part of Mesopotamia. The poems were transcribed by scribes at the temples for hundreds of years after Enheduanna’s death, according to the BBC.
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On clay tablets, with wedge-shaped impressions known as cuneiform, are Enheduanna’s works on display throughout the presentation. She recounts the creative process in the following passage from her poem “The Exaltation of Inanna”:
I have given birth,
Oh exalted lady, (to this song) for you.
That which I recited to you at (mid)night
May the singer repeat it to you at noon!
Babcock expects that the show at New York City’s Morgan Library would raise Enheduanna’s profile.
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'Photographic Images and Matter: Japanese Prints of the 1970s' goes on in Dhaka
The Japanese printmaking exhibition "Photographic Images and Matter: Japanese Prints of the 1970s," which began recently, is still underway at the Liberation War Museum in Dhaka.
Divided into two sections, the exhibition is showcasing "The Age of Photographic Images," and "Images of Autonomous Matter," giving visitors a sense of Japanese art trends in the 1970s.
The two-week exhibition is displaying the award-winning works of 14 distinguished printmakers and professors from Japan. It is also presenting a wide range of palettes, styles, and traditions of Japanese printmaking.
The exhibition is jointly organised by the Embassy of Japan in Bangladesh and the Japan Foundation.
Read: Japan Foundation print exhibition to be held at Liberation War Museum
State Minister for Culture KM Khalid inaugurated the exhibition recently. Japanese Ambassador to Bangladesh Ito Naoki was present.
During the opening ceremony, Ambassador Naoki conferred the Japanese foreign minister's commendation to Professor Syed Abul Barq Alvi of the Department of Printmaking of the University of Dhaka for his contribution to printmaking and role in promoting Bangladesh-Japan ties.
The exhibition will continue till September 29.
Japan Foundation print exhibition to be held at Liberation War Museum
On the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Japan and Bangladesh, the Japan Foundation in collaboration with the Embassy of Japan in Bangladesh will organize a traveling exhibition titled “Photographic Images and Matter: Japanese Prints of the 1970s’’ at the Liberation War Museum.
The event will be inaugurated on Friday (September 16), and will remain open to visitors till September 29, except Sundays.
State Minister for Cultural Affairs K.M Khalid will inaugurate the exhibition as the chief guest and eminent artist Professor Syed Abul Barq Alvi will be present as special guest, along with Japanese Ambassador to Bangladesh Ito Naoki, according to the Japanese Embassy in Dhaka.
23rd Young Artists' Fine Arts Exhibition ends
The 23rd edition of the Young Artists' Fine Arts Exhibition came to an end at the National Art Gallery of Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy (BSA) Saturday.
Known as one of the flagship art events of the BSA, the month-long biennale exhibition is organised by the BSA's fine arts department. It showcased 422 artworks by 356 artists this year.
Since 1975, the biennale exhibition has earned recognition from art lovers around the whole nation as a festivity and celebration of modern artworks and crafts.
'Rhythmic Abstraction' begins at Alliance Francaise de Dhaka
Bangladeshi Artist Liakat Ali's eighth solo painting exhibition titled "Rhythmic Abstraction" was inaugurated at La Galerie of Alliance Francaise de Dhaka Friday.
Japanese Ambassador to Bangladesh Ito Naoki attended the event as the chief guest.
Dhaka University Faculty of Fine Art Professor Mostafizul Haque, former chief whip of Jatiya Sangsad ASM Feroz, and International Crimes Tribunal-1 Prosecutor Md Sultan Mahmud also attended the event as special guests.
Read: Curtain rises on Shilpo Bangla Art Exhibition
The exhibition is displaying 30 paintings by the artist.
Also, Liakat's artworks have been showcased in solo and group exhibitions in Japan, Canada, the UK, the US, and China. He completed his BFA from the China National Fine Arts Academy, Hangzhou, in drawing and painting.
"The mood of painting makes the image much more attractive and the music can give a new mood to the images, which can be a new style in the abstract images in the contemporary platform that looks like rhythmic abstraction," he said about the ongoing exhibition.
Read BSA commemorates August 21 massacre with visual art show
Liakat Ali's art exhibition Rhythmic Abstraction will be open to all till August 13, Monday to Saturday from 3pm to 9pm.
23rd Young Artists’ Fine Arts Exhibition begins at BSA
The 23rd edition of the Young Artists’ Fine Arts Exhibition, one of the flagship art events of Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy (BSA), began on Wednesday at the National Art Gallery of BSA in the capital.
The month-long biennale exhibition, organised by BSA’s fine arts department, is showcasing 422 artworks by 356 artists this year.
This year’s edition received a total of 2,034 artworks under 11 categories - paintings, sculptures, print and video illustrations, craft-works, pottery crafts, architectural and oriental arts, performance art, photography and new media arts, from a total of 1,019 artists between the age of 21 and 35.
Planning Minister MA Mannan inaugurated the exhibition on Wednesday while State Minister for Cultural Affairs KM Khalid, art critic Professor Nazrul Islam and art maestro Dr Farida Zaman joined as special guests and handed over the best artists’ awards to the recipients.
BSA's Director General Liaquat Ali Lucky presided over the ceremony, while BSA Director of Fine Arts Syeda Mahbuba Karim and BSA Secretary Md Asaduzzaman also spoke at the event.
The participating artists who were nominated as winners of 12 awards in 11 categories and one overall grand award winner in the exhibition, received their respective awards, certificates and prize money cheques at the ceremony.
Read: Curtain rises on Shilpo Bangla Art Exhibition
Artists Sajia Rahman Sondha received the title award as the best artist of all mediums in the exhibition, while artists Sujon Mahabub (performance art), Samia Ahmed (installation art), Halima Akter (ceramic), Md Fayez Alam Hasan (painting), Sushmita Mukherjee Misty (sculpture), Rumana Rahman (printmaking), Showrab Gosh (oriental art), Mahatab Rashid (graphics design), Rajan Nandi (crafts), Jewel Chakma (new media art), and Shahedul Islam Sadik (photography) won awards in respective categories.
A unique and specially curated subject-based art installation is being displayed at the 3rd gallery of the National Art Gallery by 10 educational institutions of the country including Dhaka University, Chittagong University, Rajshahi University, Khulna University, National Poet Kazi Nazrul Islam University and more, which is planned and researched by BSA Director General Lucky.
The primary selection committee comprised Professor Pranab Mitra Chowdhury, artist Kamal Pasha Chowdhury, Professor Dr Nihar Ronjon Singha, artist Shayla Sharmin, photographer Ashfaque Ahmed and artist Zihan Karim.
The jury board for selecting the best artworks featured Professor Abul Barq Alvi, Dr Farida Zaman, artist Siddhartha Talukder, artist Lala Rukh Selim, artist Ziaul Karim and eminent photographer Nasir Ali Mamun.
Since 1975, the biennale exhibition has earned recognition from art-lovers around the whole nation as a festivity and celebration of modern artworks and crafts by artists from all over the country.
The exhibition will continue till August 25, every day from 11 pm to 8 pm and 3 pm on 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 number galleries and the sculpture arena at the National Art Gallery.
Curtain closes on 'Letter to the City'
Over the weekend (Friday, Saturday) the artistic event "Letter to the City" was held at Justice Shahabuddin Ahmed Park's library space in Dhaka's Gulshan-2.
Dhaka Memory, an experimental collective of artists and architects, hosted this event, with the support of the German Embassy in Dhaka and the Rotary Club of Dhaka Pathfinders.
The two-day event featured different activities including book launching and book reading sessions, puppet show, discussion, letter writing, memory gameplay, drawing sessions, and live music.
Friday, the special book "Everyday Stories" was launched at the event. The book is an anthology that comprises stories of the everyday struggles and triumphs of six girls from Dhaka's Karail slum.