Encouraging the practice of sculpture-making and development of the sector, Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy (BSA) is organizing the fifth edition of the ‘National Sculpture Exhibition' which will begin on Monday.

The exhibition, which was first organized back in 1976 and then in 1983 and 2014 after a hiatus of 31 years, is returning after three years as the last edition was organized back in 2018.

A total of 254 sculpture works by 135 artists aged 21 and above from all over the country were submitted for this year's exhibition. The selectors selected a total of 114 works of art from 107 artists for the exhibition, according to the organizers.

Besides, one sculpture work each of 16 invited and five late pioneer sculptors will also be showcased in this exhibition, and there will be a Liberation War-based sculpture corner marking the occasion of the Golden Jubilee of Independence.

State Minister for Cultural Affairs KM Khalid will inaugurate the month-long exhibition at 4 pm on Monday at BSA’s National Art Gallery auditorium. Abul Mansur, Secretary of the Ministry of Cultural Affairs, will join the inaugural ceremony as the special guest.

Eminent sculptor Hamiduzzaman Khan and artist Alok Roy will also join the ceremony, which will be presided over by BSA Director General Liaquat Ali Lucky.

A press conference was arranged at BSA’s National Art Gallery Seminar Room on Sunday, where the organizers briefed journos about the details of the exhibition.

The conference was joined by BSA DG Liaquat Ali Lucky, BSA Secretary Ashaduzzaman, Director of BSA’s Fine Arts Department Syeda Mahbuba Karim and Deputy Director Mostaq Ahmed, among others.

The Director General said that the practice of sculpture artworks in Bangladesh has been going on for more than sixty years. In the late fifties of the last century, modern sculpture was introduced here through renowned sculptor Novera Ahmed.

Later, in the first half of the sixties, under the leadership of artist Abdur Razzak and Shilpacharya Zainul Abedin, the institutional practice of sculpture started in the then College of Arts and Crafts in Dhaka, which has now been transformed and elevated as the separate and autonomous department, under the Fine Arts faculties of different universities across the country.

In addition to this, many people from pottery and other art mediums are practicing sculpture, and, as a result, Bangladesh currently has a rich and active group of sculptors. The month-long exhibition will add a great value to the practice of this popular genre, BSA DG expressed his aspiration at the press conference.

Total 13 artists will be awarded in the National Sculpture Exhibition this year. The grand prize will be the ‘Fifth National Sculpture Award-2021 Best Prize’ worth Tk 2,00,000; the second prize will be worth Tk 1,50,000, and the third prize will be worth Tk 1,00,000.

There will also be 10 honorary prizes, each worth Tk 50,000. Each of the awardees will also be given a crest and a certificate.

From November 29 to December 28, 2021 the Fifth National Sculpture Exhibition will welcome the visitors at the National Art Gallery of Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy in the capital's Segunbagicha, every day from 11 am (3 pm on Friday) to 8 pm.