Arts-&-Culture
Photo exhibition by Mongol Deep Foundation begins in city
A photo exhibition titled ‘Onkur’ has been organized by Mongol Deep Foundation at The Asiatic Center in the capital with a view to provide a glimpse into the lives of the children suffering from cancer.
The exhibition was inaugurated at ‘Batighar- Smritite Shorone Aly Zaker’ located in the Asiatic Centre (House - 63, Road – 7/B, Block – H, Banani) on November 20, 2022.
The exhibition depicts an intimate look into what life is like for children with cancer. Photographer Farhana Satu, a photojournalist and documentary photographer based in Dhaka, has depicted the sad realities of the underprivileged children with cancer which are often overlooked by most people.
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About the exhibition, Asaduzzaman Noor, Chairman of Asiatic 3Sixty Group and a Founding Member of Mongol Deep Foundation, said that the core purpose of creating the Foundation was to be associated with various cultural and philanthropic activities.
“As you know about Aly Zaker, he was a pioneer both in the world of advertising and the world of drama. He always tried to do something for people within his capacity. We’re trying to do something in the continuation of that, and today’s exhibition is a part of that,” Asaduzzaman said.
Iresh Zaker, a Founding Member of the Foundation, said that their aim is to provide promising artists an outlet to showcase their works without worrying about the cost.
“Through Batighor, we want to ensure such opportunities for young and talented artists. We have organized Onkur with this very objective. This is not the end. We hope to create some more platforms to showcase the skills of young and talented artists in the country,” said Iresh.
The exhibition will continue till December 3, 2022. It’s open for everyone from 3:00pm to 8:00pm every day.
'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.
'Kibria – A Retrospective' opens
The Embassy of Japan inaugurated an exhibition of master artist Mohammad Kibria at the new Annex Building of the mission in Dhaka Friday to celebrate 50 years Bangladesh-Japan ties.
The "Kibria-A Retrospective" is organised in cooperation with the Society for Promotion of Bangladesh Art (SPBA) and the Durjoy Bangladesh Foundation. It showcases the best of Kibria with his 50 works, most of which have never been displayed publicly.
Kibria received a scholarship from the Japan government to study at the Tokyo University of the Arts from 1959 to 1962. During his years in Japan, he was greatly influenced by Japanese aesthetics reflecting simplicity.
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Cultural Affairs State Minister KM Khalid attended the exhibition today as a chief guest. Salman F Rahman, an adviser to the prime minister, Anjan Choudhury, chairman of SPBA, and Syed Durjoy Rahman of Durjoy Bangladesh Foundation, were also present.
At the function, Japanese Ambassador to Bangladesh Ito Naoki said his country will continue to stand by Bangladesh in its development journey.
The exhibition is only open to invited guests till November 20.
Remembering Humayun Ahmed on his 74th birth anniversary
The 74th birth anniversary of legendary writer, lyricist, academician, playwright and filmmaker Humayun Ahmed is being observed on Sunday.
Often regarded as one of the best writers in Bengali literature Humayun Ahmed is credited with revitalizing Bengali literature and is best known for his iconic fictional characterisations such as ‘Himu’, ‘Misir Ali’, ‘Baker Bhai’ and others, as well as for his ‘magic-realism’ based storytelling.
Making the breakthrough in the Bengali litmosphere with his debut novel Nondito Noroke (1972), Humayun wrote over 200 fiction and non-fiction books, all of which were bestsellers in Bangladesh and are still popular among his readers.
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Unanimously regarded as the bestseller author at the Ekushey Book Fairs during the 1990s and 2000s, the majestic litterateur received Ekushey Padak, Bangla Academy Award, Lekhak Shibir Award, Shishu Academy Award, Michael Madhusudan Padak, Bachsas Award and more, for his outstanding contributions to the Bengali culture and entertainment sphere.
As a successful content-maker in television, Ahmed debuted with his drama 'Prothom Prohor' (1983) for Bangladesh Television (BTV). His successful journey in television continued with popular drama serials 'Ei Shob Din Ratri', 'Bohubrihi', 'Ayomoy', 'Nokkhotrer Raat', 'Aaj Robibar' and most notably, 'Kothao Keu Nei' for the character of ‘Baker Bhai’ played by eminent actor Asaduzzaman Noor.
Humayun Ahmed also explored success as a filmmaker in the early 1990s and went on to make a total of eight films in his filmmaking career, each based on his own novels. Two of his films, 'Sjyamol Chhaya' (2004) and 'Ghetuputra Komola' (2012) were the official Bangladeshi submissions for the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film in their respective releasing years.
He received seven Bangladesh National Film Awards in different categories for the films Shonkhonil Karagar' (as scriptwriter), 'Aguner Poroshmoni', 'Daruchini Dwip' and 'Ghetuputra Komola'.
Read more: Remembering Humayun Ahmed, a polymath par excellence
Commemorating his life and legacy, family members and different organisations along with his admirers are set to observe Humayun Ahmed’s birth anniversary today.
Humayun Ahmed’s widow and cultural personality Meher Afroz Shaon, alongside their sons Nishad Humayun and Ninith Humayun, began the day with admirers of the legendary litterateur at their house ‘Dakhin Hawa’ in the capital through a cake-cutting ceremony at 12 am.
Himu Paribahan, a noted fan group of the eminent writer, has been observing his birth anniversary for many years. It organised a special procession where the members walked barefoot on the Dhaka University campus and placed floral wreaths on Humayun’s grave in Nuhash Polli, Gazipur, in the morning.
Among other events, Channel-i will organise a daylong Humayun Mela at its Tejgaon office and theatre troupe Bahubachan will premiere its play ‘Ami Ebong Amra’, based on the famous book of Humayun’s ‘Misir Ali’ series, at the Experimental Theatre Hall of Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy (BSA) at 6:30 pm.
Meanwhile, the EXIM Bank-Anyadin Humayun Ahmed Literary Award 2022 was presented among the recipients, marking the eve of the 74th birth anniversary of Humayun Ahmed at Bangla Academy’s Abdul Karim Shattya Bisharad Auditorium on Saturday.
Ekushey Padak-winning renowned writer Anwara Syed Haq received the award this year for her literary contribution to the country’s literature arena, while Mouri Morium won the award in the Young Litterateur Category which is awarded to under 40-year-old writers, for her novel ‘Fanus'.
Read more: Humayun Ahmed: The Creator of Versatile Fictional Characters
Agriculture Minister Mohammad Abdur Razzaque was present as chief guest at the ceremony, while State Minister for Cultural Affairs KM Khalid also joined the event as the special guest.
Anyadin Editor Mazharul Islam, EXIM Bank Additional Managing Director Shah Md Abdul Bari and Meher Afroz Shaon spoke at the event, which was presided over by the EXIM Bank-Anyadin Humayun Ahmed Literary Award jury board President and eminent academician Syed Manzoorul Islam.
Since 2015, the ceremony is being held annually on November 12, the day before the eminent litterateur's birth anniversary. So far, 14 young and senior writers have received the award till date.
Banglargonji, Ayub Bachchu Foundation commemorate rock icon Ayub Bachchu with tribute exhibition
Popular online fashion house Banglargonji - Tee of Bengal, in collaboration with Ayub Bachchu Foundation, have jointly organised a two-day t-shirt fair and commemorative exhibition at the Safiuddin Shilpalay in the capital’s Dhanmondi.
The commemorative exhibition, titled ‘Harano Bikeler Golpe’ honouring the late rock legend Ayub Bachchu, was inaugurated by Ayub Bachchu Foundation founder and widow of the rock icon Ferdous Akhtar Chandana on Friday.
The exhibition is showcasing an exclusive glimpse of the late LRB founder-frontman Ayub Bachchu’s seven historic guitars, along with his exclusive memorabilia including t-shirts, his sunglass, hats and caps, and his wristwatch, from the AB family’s collections.
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Trendsetting Bangladeshi fashion brand Banglargonji - Tee of Bengal is also showcasing its flagship event ‘Banglargonji Mela’s fifth edition alongside this commemorative tribute to Ayub Bachchu.
The inauguration ceremony of this two-day event on Friday was joined by LRB guitarist Abdullah Al Masud and Banglargonji CEO Mohammad Yearuzzamanand as the special guests, alongside fans of Ayub Bachchu from all walks of life.
“Ayub Bachchu dedicated his entire life to enthral his beloved fans, and this commemorative exhibition is also dedicated to them. We are displaying some of his exclusive memorabilia for the first time ever and personally, I am overwhelmed to see the response of his admirers, Ferdous Akhtar Chandana told UNB.
LRB guitarist Abdullah Al Masud said, “There hasn't been a day since his death when we haven't felt his physical absence. These guitars have histories of their own, and we are glad that the admirers and fans of our boss (Ayub Bachchu) are enjoying the opportunity to see these exclusive memorabilia.”
The other part of the event, the traditional ‘Banglargonji Mela,’ has returned to the t-shirt enthusiasts in the city for the fifth time. Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the t-shirt fair could not take place in 2021.
Banglargonji - Tee of Bengal became a popular brand among youths due to its unique Bengali calligraphy and typography-based t-shirts, enlivening the social humour, puns and metaphors from the past to the present.
Dhaka edition of World Press Photo Exhibition 2022 opens at Drik Gallery
The Dhaka Edition of the World Press Photo Exhibition 2022 was inaugurated at Drik Gallery in the capital Friday to recognise and celebrate the best photojournalism and documentary produced last year around the world.
Drik Picture Library, in partnership with the World Press Photo Foundation, organised and inaugurated the Exhibition 2022, which is being showcased as part of its worldwide tour, displaying the photo stories from the 65th World Press Photo Contest.
Dutch Ambassador to Bangladesh Anne van Leeuwen inaugurated the exhibition.
World Press Photo Foundation Executive Director Joumana El Zein Khoury, Photographer and former World Press Photo Jury Abir Abdullah, and Managing Director of Drik, ex-jury board chair for the World Press Photo contest and eminent photojournalist Shahidul Alam were also present.
"The World Press Photo is more important than it's ever been because of how vitally important free speech and the free press are to the global community, and all of the images we've seen so far reflect reality. Some of them are heartwarming, while others are gory; and all of that is a collective result of those brave journalists' hardships," Anne said.
"One of the most distressing things you might see, in my opinion, is that these threats occasionally originate from the same institutions and organisations that are supposed to protect free speech in the media. Those of you who are journalists, photojournalists, cartoonists – please know that the international community is with you and that we support you."
Shahidul said: "All these printings and framings in this exhibition were done in Bangladesh, something that happened for the first time; and it happened because there is now a level of trust. The World Press has a regulation that none of the works can be censored, and Drik was the only place in Bangladesh where we could honour this obligation because there is no other venue in this repressive environment that can withstand that pressure."
Read more: 'Bangladesh Press Photo Contest 2022' underway at Drik Gallery
Joumana said: "All these photographs depict stories that have come from all the different regions, and have been selected by juries who understand those regions."
Ganga-Jamuna Cultural Festival 2022 draws to a close
Monday marked the end of the eleven-day Ganga-Jamuna Sangskritik Utsab 2022 at the Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy (BSA).
Known as a marquee cultural and drama event in Bangladesh, the festival's closing ceremony took place at the BSA's National Theatre Hall. Cultural Affairs Secretary Abul Mansur joined the closing ceremony alongside Ganga-Jamuna Sangskritik Utsab Parshad convener Ghulam Quddus, Sammilita Sangskritik Jote Vice-President Jhuna Chowdhury, Bangladesh Dance Artistes' Association President Minu Haque and more.
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After the closing ceremony, theatre group Loko Natyadal presented "Tapaswi o Tarangini," directed by Liaquat Ali Lucky.
Also, Nattokendro showcased Punnah at the BSA's Experimental Theatre Hall, Ethic presented "Rajdrohi" in the BSA's Studio Theatre Hall, and Sylhet-based Kathakali presented "Che'r Cycle" at the Nilima Ibrahim Auditorium of Bangladesh Mahila Samity in the capital. From October 21 to October 31, the Ganga-Jamuna Sangskritik Utsab Parishad hosted the 11-day cultural festival at the BSA's National Theatre Hall, Experimental Theatre Hall, Studio Theatre Hall, National Music-Dance-Recitation Auditorium, Open Stage, and Bangladesh Mahila Samity’s Nilima Ibrahim auditorium.
Read: 15 receive Aga Khan Music Awards 2022 A total of 122 troupes from Bangladesh and India performed at the cultural festival. Three Indian troupes – Aneek, Naye Natua – and dance troupe Chhandey Chhandey Halisahar enthraled the audience at the festival. Also, 80 performers presented solo performances at the festival.
Stamp on Royal Opera House Muscat launched at Aga Khan Award function
A stamp of the Royal Opera House Muscat (ROHM), which symbolises Oman in the fields of architecture and music, has been launched.
ROHM was chosen due to its historic hosting of the Aga Khan Awards for Architecture and Music (2020-2022).
Read more: 15 receive Aga Khan Music Awards 2022
The stamp of the Aga Khan Award for Architecture holds the number 15 and it is considered the second stamp for the Aga Khan Award for Music.
Meanwhile the Aga Khan Award for Architecture Winners’ seminar was held on Sunday under the patronage of Sayyid Dr. Fahd Al Julanda Al Said, Vice Chancellor of Sultan Qaboos University (SQU).
Read more: Ustad Zakir Hussain receives Aga Khan Music Award
Later, a film was screened on the Aga Khan Award for Architecture, highlighting the award’s focus on extraordinary architecture in terms of contemporary design and social aspects which enhance the society, repair historic sites, reuse resources, design natural scenery and improve the environment.
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.
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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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15 receive Aga Khan Music Awards 2022
Fifteen musicians have received the 2022 Aga Khan Music Awards at a ceremony held at Royal Opera House Muscat’s House of Musical Arts.
The award-giving ceremony marked the culmination of a two-day celebration in which laureates performed live or were presented in short films.
The 2022 Aga Khan Music Awards concluded on Sunday night with the presentation of awards to 15 laureates by Sayyid Bilarab bin Haitham Al Said and Prince Amyn Aga Khan during a gala concert.
A special Award for Lifetime Achievement was presented to acclaimed tabla player Ustad Zakir Hussain during the Music Awards’ opening night concert on October 29.
Read more: Ustad Zakir Hussain receives Aga Khan Music Award
This evening’s programme featured performances by Peni Candra Rini, an Indonesian composer, improviser, vocalist and educator; Yasamin Shahhosseini, an Iranian oud player who is reimagining the place of the oud in Iranian music; the Tehran-based Golshan Ensemble, which performs Iranian classical music; and Soumik Datta, a sarod player from the United Kingdom who fuses his training in Hindustani classical music with pop, rock, electronica and film soundtracks to raise awareness about urgent social issues, including climate change, refugees and mental health.
Laureates of the 2022 Music Awards were selected by a Master Jury from a field of close to 400 nominees from 42 countries.
They share $500,000 prize money and will have opportunities for professional development.
These opportunities include commissions for the creation of new works, contracts for recordings and artist management, support for pilot education initiatives, and technical or curatorial consultancies for music archiving, preservation, and dissemination projects.
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