Arts-&-Culture
'Reminiscence of Dreams': Jogen Chowdhury's solo exhibition goes on
Indian contemporary art maestro Jogen Chowdhury's solo painting exhibition "Reminiscence of Dreams," which began on May 27, is still underway at the Arcadia Arts Gallery in Dhaka's Banani.
The exhibition is showcasing more than 100 works of the "Banga Bibhushan" winning artist, also professor emeritus at Kala Bhavana at the Visva Bharati, Santiniketan in West Bengal.
The exhibition is featuring artworks divided into different mediums, including drawing and painting with dry pastel, pen, charcoal, brush and ink; printmaking works such as woodcut, etching, serigraph; mixed media on paper, watercolour and more.
Painter-cartoonist Rafiqun Nabi and Bangladeshi-Spanish artist Monirul Islam jointly inaugurated the exhibition.
Dhaka University Faculty of Fine Art Dean Nisar Hossain and Indian independent art curator Jyotirmoy Bhattacharya joined the event as special guests.
Jogen was born in the village Daharpara in Bangladesh's Faridpur district in 1939. Along with his father, the artist went to Calcutta just before the partition of 1947 while the rest of his family went there in 1948.
READ: British Council brings exhibition “BANGLA” for local art connoisseurs
He enrolled in the Government College of Art and Craft in Kolkata in 1955 and earned his degree there in 1960.
After that, Jogen went to Paris in 1965 to study at the Atelier 17 of William Hayter at the École des Beaux-Arts.
In 1968, he returned to India and started working as a professor of painting at Kala Bhavana in Santiniketan in 1987. Along with his many paintings and shows, he has written extensively about modern art and served as a jury member at several exhibitions.
UNHCR, Liberation War Museum launches ‘We are Rohingya’ photo exhibition
A three-week photo exhibition titled "Amra Rohingya" or "We are Rohingya" organised by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in partnership with the Liberation War Museum (LWM) began on Sunday at the Temporary Gallery of LWM, Agargaon in the capital.The exhibition is taking place to mark this year's World Refugee Day, showcasing photos taken by Rohingya refugees and allowing for an intimate look into what life is like for people living in the largest refugee camp in the world.Based on the Rohingyatographer magazine showcasing the photographs of ten talented Rohingya artists living in refugee camps in Cox's Bazar, this exhibit allows visitors to learn more about the individuals who have found refuge in Bangladesh, after fleeing violence and persecution in Myanmar.
Read: Rohingyas to stage demo on SundayThis photographic exhibition explores themes of memory, hope, dreams, faith, beauty, craftsmanship, grief, loss, and love among the Rohingya refugees through 50 photographs.Curated by David Palazón, Sahat Zia Hero, Amena Khatun and supported by UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, the exhibition features photography by Sahat Zia Hero, Ro Yassin Abdumonaf, Shahida Win, Azimul Hasson, Md Jamal, Abdullah Khin Maung Thein, Hujjat Ullah, Enayat Khan, Md Iddris and Omal Kahir.Additionally, 11 photographs from the Liberation War Museum archives have generously been included, showing the lives and stories of Bangladeshi nationals, who in 1971 were forced to flee and live as refugees, during the Liberation War.
An ode to designed objects: Brihatta opens ‘Sthithi: Objects in Conversation’
Showcasing the fifty year legacy of uniquely designed old Bangladeshi furniture, Brihatta Art Foundation has lifted the curtain on ‘Sthiti: Objects in Conversation’ on Saturday at its Mukti curatorial space at Mukti Tannery-1, Hazaribagh Tannery area in the capital.
Featuring 33 unique and diverse pieces of furniture made by 17 artists, architects, artisans and designers symbolizing different stories, emotions and memories and emotions, the exhibition is the first design exhibition in the country that is highlighting the cultural consequences of furniture as a design object.
With the determination to start a new dialogue behind the scenes regarding the craftsmanship of the furniture, the eccentric exhibition is jointly curated by Bangladeshi artist-art educator-curator and Brihatta co-founder Bishwajit Goswami, Korean-American architect and designer Diane Rhyu Taylor and US-based interior architect-interior stylist Ulrike Fellner.
“The Passion of Drawing-2” by Gallery Cosmos: A daylong tribute to drawing
Emphasizing the importance of drawing in the realm of postmodern arts, Gallery Cosmos organized the second edition of its exclusive daylong art event titled “The Passion of Drawing - 2” on Saturday at the Garden Gallery, Baridhara in the capital.
Six leading artistic stalwarts of the country including freedom fighter-painter Biren Shome, eminent indigenous artist Kanak Chanpa Chakma, art maestro Farida Zaman, veteran painter Abdus Shakoor Shah, contemporary artist Anukul Mojumder, and young artist Abdullah Al Bashir participated in this daylong event, showcasing their talent through live drawing sketches.
The second edition of this special event was supervised by Gallery Cosmos Director Tehmina Enayet and joined by a large number of eminent and influential personalities from home and beyond, including the Norwegian ambassador in Dhaka Espen Rikter-Svendsen.
Read: Gallery Cosmos to host 'The Passion of Drawing-2' on Saturday
From 11 am to 3 pm, the artists participated in live drawing sessions by drawing a florist woman, Kulsum, who makes garlands at the Shahbagh intersection and a local rickshaw-puller, Mohammad Belal, as the live models on their respective canvases. Accompanied by the majestic tune of flautist and artist Shamol Bishwas, the artists used charcoal, pencil, pastel, acrylic and mixed mediums on their canvases for projecting the live drawings.
After the sessions, the artists till 8 pm interacted with prominent and enthusiastic art admirers who came to visit the event and celebrate the togetherness of art and nature at the Garden Gallery’s beautiful, picturesque venue.
ActionAid Bangladesh's 2-day festival on resilience, culture ends
ActionAid's two-day festival – organised to celebrate the resilience of communities of Bangladesh and the country's glorious heritage, culture, and traditions – ended Friday in Dhaka.
The event "Festival of Resilience: People, Planet and Possibilities" aimed to encourage celebration and participation among communities in recognition of their stories of resilience.
For decades, the people of Bangladesh have faced countless challenges, such as climate and human-induced disasters, inequalities, economic instability, refugee crisis and pandemic. But every time, the mass bounced back with the power of resilience and survived with renewed vigour.
Read: ActionAid to celebrate Bangladeshi resilience, cultural heritage
A very recent example would be the last two years, during the peak of the Covid-19 pandemic, when the collective effort of the people of this country helped communities stay hopeful and agile.
To celebrate the innate quality and resilience of people, ActionAid Bangladesh organised the festival. Through a wide and immersive range of activities, the festival helped celebrate the people, their strength, joy, and solidarity.
Key attractions of the opening day included a performance by Happy Home girls; the inauguration of exhibition and kiosks; opening dialogue on the "Multi-dimensional perspective of resilience."
Gallery Cosmos to host 'The Passion of Drawing-2' on Saturday
Here's some good news for art lovers out there. Gallery Cosmos is organising an exclusive art event -- 'The Passion of Drawing-2' -- on Saturday at the Garden Gallery in Dhaka's Baridhara.
The event is intended to celebrate the universal and jovial artistic pleasure of drawing, according to Gallery Cosmos executive artistic manager Sourav Chowdhury.
As one of the introductory activities of humans across the world, drawing accompanies an artist forever.
Also read: Noted artists celebrate Spring at ‘The Passion of Drawing’ by Gallery Cosmos
To celebrate the essence of drawing in this mesmerising monsoon, Gallery Cosmos is hosting this second edition of this exclusive art event, titled 'The Passion of Drawing-2', with a celebratory vision to explore the innate and everlasting connection between humans and nature.
Six leading and promising artists of the country will participate in this event. These stalwart artists are Biren Shome, Farida Zaman, Abdus Shakoor Shah, Kanak Chanpa Chakma, Anukul Mojumder and Abdullah Al Bashir.
Also read: Cosmos dialogue on Dhaka-Jakarta ties to premiere on Wednesday
These prominent artists will participate in drawing sessions and interact with audiences over their respective paintings.
The drawings will also be put on display simultaneously for the audience.
Curtain rises on group exhibition 'The Magical Brush: Season 2'
Featuring captivating artworks made by 105 amateur artists, a group exhibition titled “The Magical Brush" returned with its second season at the Safiuddin Shilpalay, Dhanmondi in the capital on Monday.
Art patron Mahfuz Canvas is presenting the second season of "The Magical Brush," the flagship exhibition of youth group AllStar, which is co-sponsored by Moon Calligraphy.
The exhibition was inaugurated by 2022 Ekushey Padak winner and renowned actor, director, writer and painter Afzal Hossain, who lauded the flamboyant effort of the amateur artists.
“Back when we first commenced our creative journeys, our passion propelled us forward, and we were fortunate to have the support of some amazing, understanding souls. Nowadays, all we see is people snatching opportunities from one another, which is why this exhibition impressed me as unique because of the artistic collaboration between the artists and the organizers.” Afzal Hossain said as the chief guest.
READ: Curtain falls on indeginous artists’ exhibition
Curtain falls on indeginous artists’ exhibition
Portraying the scenic and picturesque beauty of Rangamati through refreshing artworks, a group exhibition titled ‘Weaving Art of the Hills’ came to its closure on Saturday night.
Inaugurated on May 21, the closing ceremony of the group exhibition was held at the Abinta Gallery of Fine Arts, Badda in the capital, joined by Dipankar Takulder, Chairman of the Parliamentary Standing Committee, Ministry of Food, as the chief guest.
Abul Khair Litu, the Chairperson of Bengal Foundation, eminent artist Abul Barq Alvi, and noted actor and activist Sara Zaker joined the event as special guests.
Read: Bashir Ahmed Sujan's solo panoramic photography exhibition begins at AFD
The event was also joined by eminent photographer and artist Nasir Ali Mamun, art maestro professor Farida Zaman, Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy Fine Arts director Syeda Mahbuba Karim and more.
Organized by the Abinta Gallery alongside Ethnic Artists Forum, a platform for indigenious artists to express their views and thoughts towards art and culture, the exhibition displayed a total of 65 artworks made by 44 indigenious artists including Mong Mong Sho, Lumbiny Dewan, Mong Shonie Rakhine, Jayatu Chakma and more.
The majority of the participating artists in this exhibition were students from several universities' Faculty of Fine Arts and Fine Arts Colleges, who represented several ethnic groups such as Marma, Rakhine, Chakma, Tripura, Garo, Hajong, Koch, and Manipuri.
Read: Goethe-Institut Bangladesh, HerStory Foundation present The Myth Bridge
The artists' use of vibrant colors in depicting their thought-provoking artistic narratives, portraying the realest and often unseen beauty of Rangamati, was lauded by the guests at the closing ceremony. They also praised the artists for depicting their thought-provoking artistic narratives through vivid colors, portraying the realest and often unseen beauty of Rangamati.
With 85 young and talented artists, the Ethnic Artist Forum began its journey in 2019, founded by prominent indigenous painter Kanak Chanpa Chakma.
50 of these artists took part in an exclusive art camp in Rangamati in August 2019, and the artworks in this exhibition were created during that camp. However, due to the global pandemic of COVID-19, the exhibition could not take place in 2020 and the following year.
‘Weaving Art of the Hills’: Beauty of Rangamati gets reimagined at group exhibition of ethnic artists
Showcasing the scenic beauty of the hills and mountain regions of Rangamati and various means of subsistence of the locals and their customs, an exclusive group exhibition titled ‘Weaving Art of the Hills’ is currently being held at the Abinta Gallery of Fine Arts in the capital.
Organized by the Abinta Gallery alongside Ethnic Artists Forum, a platform for indigenious artists to express their views and thoughts towards art and culture, the exhibition was inaugurated on May 21.
Joined by Secretary (West) of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Shabbir Ahmad Chowdhury, renowned artist and art-maestro Professor Mustafa Monwar, Turkish Ambassador in Dhaka Mustafa Osman Turan and Managing Director at Berger Paints Bangladesh Ltd Rupali Chowdhury as the guest of honor, the exhibition was presided by the Chairperson of Abinta Gallery of Fine Arts Nilu Rowshon Murshed.
Also read: Bashir Ahmed Sujan's solo panoramic photography exhibition begins at AFD
Nazrul’s 123rd birth anniversary Wednesday
The 123rd birth anniversary of national poet Kazi Nazrul Islam will be celebrated in the country on Wednesday in a befitting manner.
Known and regarded as the ‘rebel poet’ for his iconoclastic and majestic literary creations, Kazi Nazrul Islam was born at Churulia village of Burdwan in the Indian state of West Bengal in 1899.
Nazrul through his fiery poems had inspired people to fight against injustice and repression of the colonial rule.
Aiming to observe the glorious day amid festivities without the fear of COVID-19 for the first time in two years, the maximum number of government and non-government organizations and different cultural platforms chalked out separate programmes with cultural performances and discussions on the life and works of the rebel poet.
This year, the government has announced the theme of the birth anniversary celebration of the national poet as the “Rebel’s Centenary.”
According to the Ministry of Cultural Affairs, the events observing the 123rd birth anniversary of the national poet will begin with placing floral wreaths at the grave of the poet at Dhaka University at 6:30 am.
State Minister for Cultural Affairs KM Khalid and Secretary Abul Mansur will be present on the occasion alongside other officials of the Ministry and its associated wings and departments.
The main event marking the national poet's 123rd birth anniversary will take place at Cumilla Birchandra Public Library and City Auditorium premises (Town Hall) at 11 am.
Information and Broadcasting Minister Dr Hasan Mahmud will be present at the opening ceremony as the chief guest, which will also be joined by Nazrul’s granddaughter Khilkhil Kazi as a special guest.
Country’s leading cultural institution Chhayanaut is set to organize a two-day "Nazrul Uthsab '' from May 25 at the Chhayanaut Sangskriti Bhaban, Dhanmondi in the capital.
This year, the event is welcoming in-person attendance for the first time in the last two years, and the festival will be featuring performances inspired by Nazrul's literature and songs at Chhayanaut's auditorium at 7 pm. The festival will also be aired on Chhayanaut's official Facebook page and YouTube channel.
On Tuesday, Jatiya Kabi Kazi Nazrul Islam University (JKKNIU) in Trishal, Mymensingh, inaugurated a three-day celebration programme, featuring discussion, awards ceremony, photography exhibition and cultural programmes.
Also read:Nazrul’s ‘Bidrohi’ recited by hundred people in a chorus in Chuadanga
Posts and Telecommunications Minister Mustafa Jabbar was present as the chief guest at JKKNIU’s Gahi Sammyer Gaan Mancha on the first day’s event at 11 am. Vice-Chancellor Prof.Soumitra Shekhar chaired the event, which was also joined by Poet Muhammad Nurul Huda, Director General of Bangla Academy as the special guest.
On the occasion, eminent Nazrul sangeet exponent Sujit Mostafa was awarded with the Nazrul Padak.
The Indira Gandhi Cultural Centre (IGCC) organized a solo music show of renowned Nazrul exponent Khairul Anam Shakil on Tuesday. The event, titled “Nazrul Sangeet Sandhya” was held at the National Art Gallery of Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy at 6:30 pm.
Many other organizations and institutions including Bangla Academy, Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy, Kazi Nazrul Institute and more will be organizing special events, marking the 123rd birth anniversary of the poet.
Several television channels, radio stations and online platforms are organizing special programmes, marking the occasion.
Newspapers will publish special supplements on the occasion.
According to the Nazrul Institute, Kazi Nazrul wrote 2,600 songs, 600 poetry, three novels, and 43 articles in a career spanning 21 years before losing his speech.
After the death of his father, Kazi Nazrul obtained a job as a caregiver and also worked as a muezzin at a mosque to support his family. At the age of nine, he had to drop out of school to join a Churulia-based professional ‘leto' company.
He was introduced to Bangali and Sanskrit literature while working for the group. He returned to school a year later and enrolled at Matharun English School, but dropped out again in Class VI due to poverty.
After a while, police officer Kazi Rafizullah took him in at his home in Trishal, Mymensingh, and enrolled him in Class VII at Darirampur School.
Serving the British Army in 1917 as a soldier, Kazi Nazrul started his literary career within a few years. His cult-classic poem ‘Bidrohi’ (The Rebel) was published in 1921. A year later, he started a fortnightly magazine named ‘Dhumketu’ (The Comet).
His nationalist participation in the Indian Independence Movement landed him in the hands of colonial British authorities on several occasions.
While in prison, Kazi Nazrul authored the 'Rajbandir Jabanbandi' (Deposition of a Political Prisoner), and his creations later encouraged Bangladesh Liberation War.
Freedom, humanity, love and revolution are the constant themes in Kazi Nazrul's majestic literary creations. He was against all sorts of religious, caste-based, and gender-based discrimination and extremism.
He wrote short stories, novels and essays, but his songs and poems are his most critically acclaimed literary creations. He popularised Bengali ghazal melodies, and is noted for his liberal usage of Arabic and Persian terms in his writings.
Kazi Nazrul created a new genre in music called ‘Nazrul Geeti’, a collection of 4,000 songs that he wrote and created the music for, many of which were recorded on HMV.
In 1942, Kazi Nazrul began to lose his voice and memory due to an unexplained ailment. Later, a medical team in Vienna identified his illness as Pick's disease, a rare and incurable neurodegenerative disease.
His family travelled to Bangladesh at the invitation of then Bangladeshi government and settled down in Dhaka in 1972. For his iconic contribution to Bangla literature and culture, Dhaka University awarded him an honorary post-doctoral degree in 1974. He was awarded Ekushey Padak in 1976.
Kazi Nazrul breathed his last in Dhaka on August 29, 1976.
Also read: Remembering Nazrul, a poet par excellence!
President Abdul Hamid and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina issued separate messages highlighting the colourful life of the poet and his contributions to Bangla language and literature.
In his message, the President said, “Nazrul’s write-ups inspired us in all democratic movements including the anti-British movement, the Language Movement, the Mass Uprising in 1969, and the Liberation War.”
“I firmly believe that the new generation will be able to enrich themselves through the practice of Nazrul and will play a role in building a happy and prosperous ‘Sonar Bangla’ with patriotism and honesty.”
In her message, the Prime Minister said, “I believe Nazrul's write-ups will play a role in building a non-communal, peaceful, happy, prosperous and modern Bangladesh.”
She also wished success of all programmes marking the day.