Gallery Cosmos, the artistic wing and printmaking studio of Cosmos Foundation, is set to host a unique Printmaking Workshop titled "On the Trail of Planography" at Cosmos Atelier71, Cosmos Centre in Malibagh, Dhaka, from May 10 to 13 (every day 10 am to 5 pm).

Set to be inaugurated on Friday, the workshop will be conducted by internationally acclaimed artist-art educator Sheikh Mohammad Rokonuzzaman, with the participation of 11 Bangladeshi artists from diverse backgrounds. Additionally, young teachers and art educators from different universities will join the workshop.

Eminent artist Rokeya Sultana, legendary photographer Nasir Ali Mamun, and art educator Ashmita Alam, Chairman of the Department of Printmaking, Faculty of Fine Arts at Dhaka University, will participate at the workshop as guest artists. The workshop will focus on exploring plate lithography techniques in printmaking.

Participating artists are: Abu Kalam Shamsuddin, Boni Adam, Chitram Sen Anik, Iqbal Bahar Chy, K Zaman Shimul, Kamruzzoha, Palash Baran Biswas, Rezwanur Rahman, Rumana Rahman Rani, Salma Zakia Bristy and Sohanur Rahman.

Currently a Professor of Printmaking at DU’s Faculty of Fine Arts, Sheikh Mohammad Rokonuzzaman was born in Dhaka in 1976. After completing his BFA from the Institute of Fine Arts’ Department of Printmaking, Dhaka University in 1998 (held in 2001), he received a Master’s degree in printmaking from Visva Bharati, Santiniketan, India in 2004 under the ICCR Scholarship by the Indian Government. He continued his artistic research at Tokyo University of Fine Art, Japan (2010 to 2012) under the Monbukagakusho Research Scholarship, courtesy of the Japanese Government, and completed his PhD from Dhaka University in 2017.

Sheikh Mohammad Rokonuzzaman’s 1st Solo Exhibition was held at the Zainul Gallery, Dhaka University in 2005. Before that, his 1st open studio exhibition was held at Nandan Gallery (M.F.A Submission), Visva Bharati, Santiniketan, India, in 2004 - and his 2nd open studio exhibition was held at Gedai Gallery (Research Submission), Tokyo University of The Fine Art, Japan in 2012. 

In his illustrious career, Sheikh Mohammad Rokonuzzaman has participated in numerous national and international exhibitions at home and abroad, including Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy (BSA)’s Young Artists Art Exhibition, National Art Exhibition, Asian Art Biennale; and many other exhibitions in Japan, India, Ukraine, Serbia, Taiwan, and Australia, to name a few. 

Notable among the artist’s awards are the Diploma (3rd place) in the category “Small format graphics” in The First International Small Form Graphic Trienale & Exucubris, Planet for All, Ukraine, 2022; Honorable Award in International Art Fest 2021-22, (Microtopia), Bangladesh, arranged by Chittagong Art Club and Gallery Chitrak; E- Certificate Award Winner, GAWA Annual International Watercolor Online Contest-2019; Elizabeth Greenshields Award, Canada-2009, Best Award in Printmaking at the 16th (2008) and 15th (2004) Young Artists Art Exhibition, Organized by Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy, and Best Award in Printmaking in Annual Art Exhibition, Institute of Fine Arts, Dhaka University (1998). 

From 2019-2022, Sheikh Mohammad Rokonuzzaman acted as the Chairman of the Department of Printmaking. Faculty of Fine Arts at Dhaka University. He has participated in numerous national and international art workshops and also conducted a few of them, and his works are in the collection of many notable institutions and galleries including Dhaka University, Tokyo University of Fine Art in Japan, Visva Bharati in Santiniketan, India, Bangladesh National Museum, Bangladesh Bank, and Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy, among others.