Arts-&-Culture
Bangladesh Couture Week 2021 kicks off paying tribute to artisans, craftsmanship
Fashion Design Council of Bangladesh (FDCB) is hosting the very first edition of "Bangladesh Couture Week 2021" at Edge Gallery of Gulshan from 2-4 December.
This year's Couture Week is offering a peek into the lives of skilled artisans of Bangladesh, who have been trying to keep up with multiple obstacles – from poverty and mass migrations to displacement due to natural calamities, and soaring costs of raw materials and much more.
The lure of lucrative jobs in the cities and better education is driving the younger generations away from their former livelihoods. Craftsmen now feel discontent and disconnected from their traditional crafts.
'Beauty relies on truth': Mustapha Khalid Palash
To create any beautiful artistic work, one has to search and extract the truthfulness out of nature and elements, as true beauty relies on truth and vice-versa, said award-winning Bangladeshi architect, artist, multi instrumentalist-singer and painter Mustapha Khalid Palash at ‘Cosmos Art Echo: Session 8’ on Sunday.“As an artist, I always believe that beauty relies on truth. If you are truthful in your works, you will find joy and success in your creations and the overall creative process. The current world is highly materialistic so sometimes we go through roadblocks in our creative process, but your commitment towards your creation and your truthfulness will guide you towards success,” Palash said at the event.Hosted by Gallery Cosmos and Cosmos Atelier71 Executive Artistic Manager Sourav Chowdhury, the virtual art talk shed the spotlight on the eminent artist and educator, who shared his iconic and highly successful journey for the enthusiasts and the participants of the Cosmos Atelier Membership Project.
Also read: 'Inside Out’: Day-long painting, printmaking and origami workshop for children at Gallery CosmosOne of the most prominent names in Bangladesh's current architecture scene As the Principal Architect and Managing Director of Vistaara Architects [Pvt] Ltd, he and his team have been elevating the megacity of Dhaka for the last two and a half decades by building attractive, sustainable, and functional architectural marvels one after the other.“Art deals with illusion, Sculpture deals with volume and Architecture deals with space,” Palash said. “As human beings have so many other organs and a ‘soul,’ a building is also not only some materials-based structure but also has its own uniqueness, which an architect must learn to understand.”Speaking of his monumental creations, Palash shared how hard the journey was back in the days when technology was not improved in comparison to the current scenario. “When I got the offer from the Bashundhara City authority to make that gigantic shopping mall, I was just 35 years old and was teaching at BUET. The offer came to me after going through the brochure of the Unique Trade Centre (UTC), also designed by me, and then they demonstrated what the mall should look like. It seemed highly impossible at first, then we travelled to other monumental shopping places across the world before starting the construction.”
Top 10 Historical Mosques in Bangladesh
A mosque is a place of worship for Muslims. Mosques are also known as Masjids. Usually, mosques or masjids are used for communal prayer on Friday Noon called Jumu'ah or Jami. Beyond the significance as a place of worship, mosques bear the symbol of tradition and architecture. Since the medieval periods, many Muslim kings have ruled over the territory now known as Bangladesh. Numerous palaces, mosques, and forts have been constructed in this region. Still today, some century-old historical mosques represent the grandeur of the rich Islamic architecture and tradition. Let us take a look at the top 10 historical mosques of our country.
Beautiful Traditional Mosques in Bangladesh
Shat Gombuj Mosque
It is one of Bangladesh's oldest mosques. During the reign of Sultan Nasiruddin Mahmoud Shah (1435-59), Khan Jahan Ali constructed a spectators' walkway for q gathering, which was ultimately converted into sixty domed mosques. On the west wall of the mosque, there are ten mihrabs. Within the middle, there is a towering and lovely mihrab. In the south, there are 5 mihrabs, and in the north, there are 4 mihrabs. There is a little entrance just next to the main mihrab, on the north facet, where there is thought to be one mihrab.
From north to south, the mosque is 160 feet long, 143 feet long inside, 104 feet wide from east to west, and 88 feet wide inside. The walls are approximately 8.5 feet thick. Surprisingly, the total number of domes in the sixty-domed mosque is 81, with 11 domes in seven rows totaling 77 domes, four in each, and four in each of the four corners.
Read Top Historical Places in Dhaka City to Visit on Weekends
Atiya Mosque
The Atiya Mosque is about six kilometers south of the district headquarters in the Tangail district's Delduar Upajilla village of Atiya. During Emperor Jahangir's reign, Sayeed Khan Panni, son of Baizid Khan Panni, erected the heritage mosque in honor of Shah Baba Kashmiri in 1019 AH (1610-1611 AD).
“Once There Were Rivers” screened at IUB
Mahenaz Chowdhury’s short documentary ‘Once There Were Rivers’ was screened at the Independent University of Bangladesh’s Lecture Gallery premise on Saturday.
Organised by IUB’s Green Planet Club, the screening event featured panelists from IUB’s Department of Environmental Science and Management, who discussed questions by the students on a future with clean rivers.
Dr K Ayaz Rabbani, Head, Department of Environmental Science and Management, shared how the film had taken him on a journey that connects the essence of rivers, like Shitalkshya, with the people whose lives depend on it through a different lens.
Dr Abdul Khaleque, Professor, Department of Environmental Science and Management, emphasised why this film is a sign of hope that the new generation leaders and activists acknowledge the seriousness of environmental issues and is taking measures to a new height.
Md Ekhtekharul Islam, Senior Lecturer, IUB Department of Environmental Science and Management and IUB Green Planet Club coordinator, shared telling examples of how everyone on an individual level has to be aware of their environmental impact.
The knowledge exchange between panelists and students reflected future courses of actions that must be taken collectively to create impact. Further, it was discussed that there are excellent conservation and regulatory policies deployed by the Government but are not being implemented effectively.
Exhibition of Bangladeshi arts, photographs begins in Toronto
The High Commissioner of Bangladesh in Canada has inaugurated an exhibition of Bangladeshi arts and photographs titled "Lighting the Fire of Freedom: Art of A Young Nation" at the Art Gallery of Mississauga, Toronto.
The exhibition consisting 50 outstanding works of 38 Bangladeshi artists and photographers, is organised to celebrate the twin historic occasions of the birth centenary of the Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and the Golden Jubilee of the Independence of Bangladesh, said the High Commission on Saturday.
The exhibition will remain open until 12 January 2022.
The exhibition covers the history of Bangladesh from the birth of Bangabandhu in 1920 to 1975, depicting the important events of his life and his struggle and sacrifice to build a new nation, Bangladesh.
Also read: Bangabandhu Exhibition Centre a ‘new icon’ of Dhaka-Beijing fruitful ties: Envoy
Sparks fly as neutral pronoun included in French dictionary
It’s a neutral pronoun that’s proving anything but: A nonbinary pronoun added to an esteemed French dictionary has ignited a fierce linguistic squabble in the country.
Le Petit Robert introduced the word “iel” — an amalgamation of “il” (he) and “elle” (she) — to its online edition last month. While the term is gaining currency among young people, it is still far from being widely used, or even understood, by many French speakers.
Though at first the change went mostly unnoticed, boisterous debate broke out this week in a nation that prides itself on its human rights tradition but that also fiercely protects its cultural heritage from foreign meddling. In one camp are the traditionalists, including some political leaders, who criticize the move as a sign that France is lurching toward an American-style “woke” ideology. In the other is a new generation of citizens who embrace nonbinary as the norm.
Also read: White House adding sign language interpreter for briefings
“It is very important that dictionaries include the ‘iel’ pronoun in their referencing as it reflects how the use of the term is now well accepted,” said Dorah Simon Claude, a 32-year-old doctoral student who identifies as “iel.”
“It is,” they added, “also a way of confronting the Academie Francaise that stays in its conservative corner and continues to ignore and scorn users of the French language.”
Education Minister Jean-Michel Blanquer is not in the same camp. He went to Twitter on Wednesday to say that “inclusive writing is not the future of the French language.” The 56-year-old former law professor warned that schoolchildren should not use “iel” as a valid term despite its inclusion in Le Robert, seen as a linguistic authority on French since 1967.
Francois Jolivet, a lawmaker from President Emmanuel Macron’s centrist party, also made his distaste plain. Nonbinary pronouns are, he suggested, a worrying sign that France is embracing a “woke” ideology.
Jolivet wrote a letter to the bastion of French language, the 400-year-old Academie Francaise, claiming that Le Robert’s “solitary campaign is an obvious ideological intrusion that undermines our common language and its influence.”
The general director of Le Robert editions, Charles Bimbenet, jumped to the dictionary’s defense Wednesday in a statement. Far from dictating which terms should be used, he said, Le Petit Robert was elucidating the word’s meaning, now it is growing in currency nationwide.
Since “the meaning of the word iel cannot be understood by reading it alone,” Bimbenet said, “it seemed useful to us to specify its meaning for those who encounter it, whether they wish to use it or … reject it.”
“Robert’s mission is to observe and report on the evolution of a changing and diverse French language,” he said.
Also read: Coronavirus can affect memory, language: Study
In 2017, the Academie Francaise warned that moves to make French more gender neutral would create “a disunited language, with disparate expression, that can create confusion verging on illegibility.”
Gendered languages like French are seen as a particular hurdle for advocates of nonbinary terms as all nouns are categorized as either masculine or feminine, unlike in English.
Not all European countries are moving at the same speed as France. In Greece, where all nouns have not two, but three possible genders, there is no official nonbinary pronoun, but groups who support them suggest using “it.”
In Spain, after former deputy prime minister and affirmed feminist Carmen Calvo asked the Royal Spanish Academy to advise on the use of inclusive language in the Constitution, its reply the next year was crystal clear: “Inclusive language” means “the use of the masculine to refer to men and women."
Bangiya Sahitya Sangskriti Samsad pays tribute to late legends
The Bangiya Sahitya Sangskriti Sangsad paid tribute to late eminent cultural personalities who passed away during the Covid-19 pandemic through a special commemorative event Sunday.
The event "Smarane Shraddharghya," jointly organised by the Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy and the Sangskriti Sangsad at the open stage of the academy in the evening, remembered former national professor Anisuzzaman, former Indian president Pranab Mukherjee, Bir Uttam CR Dutta, and legendary Indian-Bengali actor Soumitra Chatterjee.
Also, glowing homage were paid to Father RW Timm, former principal and one of the founders of Notre Dame College in Dhaka, eminent educator Jamilur Reza Chowdhury, thespian Aly Zaker, journalist Kamal Lohani, writer Buddhadev Guha, silver screen actor Sarah Begum Kabori, freedom fighter Abu Osman Chowdhury, former Bangla Academy chairman and folklorist Shamsuzzaman Khan, writer Shankh Ghosh, author Borhan Uddin Khan Jahangir, legendary flute player Indra Mohan Rajbangshi, eminent singer Andrew Kishore, folk icon Fakir Alamgir, and novelist Rabea Khatun.
Actor-playwright Dr Enamul Haque, columnist Syed Abul Moksud, composer Azad Rahman, eminent journalist Atiqullah Khan Masud, legendary painter Murtaja Baseer, dramatist Afsar Ahmed, actor Mahmud Sajjad; poets Alokeranjan Dasgupta, Sufia Ahmed, writer Debesh Roy, Bangla Academy's former director-general Habibullah Siraji, Tagore exponent Mita Huq, silver screen legend ATM Shamsuzzaman, journalist Rahat Khan, former editor of Kali o Kalam Abul Hasnat, rock icon Ayub Bachchu and playwright Mannan Hira were remembered, too.
Noted cultural personalities, including Manchasarathi Ataur Rahman, Ramendu Majumder, Asaduzzaman Nur, Nasiruddin Yusuf Bachchu, M Hamid, Liaquat Ali Lucky, and Sara Zaker joined the event and paid tributes to the late personalities.
President of Sammilita Sangskritik Jote Ghulam Quddus presided over the event.
It was a part of the Sangskriti Samsad's three-day programme at the academy, which was inaugurated Saturday with the observance of World Kindness Day 2021.
'Radharaman Cultural Centre' to be set up in the poet's birthplace
The Ministry of Cultural Affairs has floated a project for setting up the "Radharaman Cultural Centre" at Keshabpur village in Jagannathpur, Sunamganj – the birthplace of the hugely influential Bengali musician and poet Radharaman Dutta.
"We hope to send the project proposal to the Planning Commission by June 2022," said State Minister for Cultural Affairs KM Khalid Saturday.
The state minister was addressing a programme organised by the upazila administration with the support of Radharaman Samaj Kalyan Sanskritik Parishad (Radharaman Social Welfare & Cultural Council) while visiting Keshabpur, according to the Press Information Department.
Radharaman is considered the "Father of Dhamal songs" – compositions to traditional dance forms – and he also wrote and composed numerous songs in the Baul tradition.
The musician is well known for his songs like "Shyam Kalia, "Shuna Bondhu Re," "Bhromor Koio Giya," and "Kare Dhekabo Moner Dhukko Go."
Radharaman's compositions are performed today in weddings all over Bangladesh and his songs are widely covered by contemporary musicians in Bangladesh and West Bengal.
His most popular song, "Bhromor Koio Giya," was copied by Romanian singer Liviu Mititelu and Tajik singer Noziya Karomatullo also covered it in her language.
In 1915, Radharaman died in his own house which became his shrine. He was 81 at the time of death.
"Steps have been taken to preserve all the creations of Radharaman Dutta in their entirety," Khalid said.
"Radharaman Dutta's property was illegally occupied for 60 years. It has been recovered through the legal process and an initiative has been taken to build the Radharaman Complex there."
Nilima Ibrahim Birth Centenary: Curtain raised on theatre festival at BMS
Commemorating the birth centenary of pioneering educator, litterateur and founder of Bangladesh Mohila Samity (BMS) Nilima Ibrahim, a five-day theatre festival was inaugurated Tuesday. It is being held at the Nilima Ibrahim Auditorium of Bangladesh Mohila Samity at Bailey Road in the capital.
The five-day festival, titled “Shatabarshe Nilima Ibrahim Natyotsab 2021,” will be showcasing five plays performed by five of the country’s renowned theatre troupes: Dhaka Theatre, Natyachakra, Aranyak Natyadal, Theatre and Lok Natyadal.
An inauguration ceremony was organized on Tuesday evening to mark the occasion, which was joined by KM Khalid, state minister for cultural affairs, as the chief guest.
As discussants, legendary thespian and Honorary President of International Theater Institute (ITI) Ramendu Majumdar, Dhaka University Bangla Department Professor Bhishmadeb Choudhury, and Vice-Chancellor of the Tagore University of Creative Arts Syed Mohammad Shahed were present at the event, while former Cultural Affairs Minister and popular thespian Asaduzzaman Noor, ruling Awami League lawmaker Aroma Dutta and human rights activist Khushi Kabir, among others, were also present among the audiences.
Presided over by Bangladesh Mohila Samity President Sitara Ahsanullah, the welcome address at the ceremony was delivered by Tanya Bukth, General Secretary of the Bangladesh Mohila Samity, while Marufi Khan, vice-president of the organization, paid respect to Nilima Ibrahim.
Eti Ibrahim Khan, Nilima Ibrahim's daughter, shared her vote of thanks to the organizers at the event, and the ceremony was anchored by Bangladesh Mohila Samity joint secretary Tamanna Rahman.
How virtual galleries kept Indian art alive amid Covid
What Jagdip Jagpal, the director of the coveted India Art Fair, said about Indian art in December 2018 sounded like the worst irony to the country’s art business a year and a half later. “Indian contemporary art is close to a tipping point, thanks to biennales, residencies, funded initiatives, philanthropy, and a growing awareness of Indian Moderns.”
This high note of optimism simply evaporated in thin air, the buoyancy gave way to despondency as the Covid-19 pandemic lashed the country and the government announced a nationwide lockdown in March 2020. The Indian art market, estimated at US dollars 14.6 million in 2017, showed signs of shrinking by close to seven percent within weeks.
Desolation and mayhem were palpable in the industry. Almost all auction houses in the country, which accounted for 37% of the art sales the previous year, downed their shutters.
Also read: US returns antiquities to India in stolen art investigation
The global art market, worth US dollars 64.1 billion in 2019, tanked over 5% within months after the pandemic spread across the world. China, the world’s third-largest art and antique market, suffered a slide of 10% and art sales in India caved in by over 30% between March and June 2020.
An Art Basel and UBS report, prepared by Clare McAndrew, the founder of Arts Economics, quantified the impact of the pandemic and lockdown on art sales. In the first half of 2020, the gallery sale plummeted by 36% while the sale of auction houses dipped by 49% during the same period. Bloodshed in the art industry was everywhere in India and beyond.