The month-long '6th National Sculpture Exhibition 2024', organised by the Fine Arts Department of Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy (BSA),  began on Saturday. One of the flagship events of BSA, the sculpture exhibition was inaugurated by Sharmin S Murshid, adviser to the Ministry of Social Welfare and Women and Children Affairs. Eminent sculptor Hamiduzzaman Khan, Director General of Bengal Foundation Luva Nahid Chowdhury, and Chittagong University teacher-sculptor Atiqul Islam were present as special guests. The chairman's speech was delivered online by the BSA Director General Dr Syed Jamil Ahmed, while Mustafa Zaman, Director of the Fine Arts Department, delivered the welcome speech at the event. The first sculpture exhibition was organized in 1982 by the Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy with the aim of continuously encouraging and developing the practice of sculpture. 'Joke er Rajneeti': When stand-up came to Shilpakala This year, the number of participating artists is 216, and 178 works of art in different categories by 159 artists are being exhibited. A total of 13 awards, including 10 honorary awards, were presented at the inaugural ceremony. This time, the 6th National Sculpture Award went to Dr Azharul Islam Sheikh Chanchal, the second prize went to Abdul Khalek Chowdhury, and the third place went to Bilash Mondal. Among the recipients of honorary awards are Asim Halder Sagar, Rupam Roy, Alok Kumar Sarkar, Abu Sadayat Md. Sohel, Amit Koch, Asfiqur Rahman, Syed Tarique Rahman, Habiba Akhtar Papia, Kanak Kumar Pathak and Srabanti Meherun. At the same time, a multimedia 360-degree VR (Virtual Reality) version of the exhibition was also inaugurated at Gallery 05 of the Academy's National Art Gallery building under the management of the BSA Production Department. The exhibition is open to everyone and will run at the National Art Gallery of Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy from December 21, 2024 to January 20, 2025, daily from 11 am (3 pm on public holidays) to 8 pm.

The 23rd edition of the Young Artists' Fine Arts Exhibition came to an end at the National Art Gallery of Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy (BSA) Saturday. Known as one of the flagship art events of the BSA, the month-long biennale exhibition is organised by the BSA's fine arts department. It showcased 422 artworks by 356 artists this year. Since 1975, the biennale exhibition has earned recognition from art lovers around the whole nation as a festivity and celebration of modern artworks and crafts.  

The 23rd edition of the Young Artists’ Fine Arts Exhibition, one of the flagship art events of Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy (BSA), began on Wednesday at the National Art Gallery of BSA in the capital. The month-long biennale exhibition, organised by BSA’s fine arts department, is showcasing 422 artworks by 356 artists this year. This year’s edition received a total of 2,034 artworks under 11 categories - paintings, sculptures, print and video illustrations, craft-works, pottery crafts, architectural and oriental arts, performance art, photography and new media arts, from a total of 1,019 artists between the age of 21 and 35. Planning Minister MA Mannan inaugurated the exhibition on Wednesday while State Minister for Cultural Affairs KM Khalid, art critic Professor Nazrul Islam and art maestro Dr Farida Zaman joined as special guests and handed over the best artists’ awards to the recipients. BSA's Director General Liaquat Ali Lucky presided over the ceremony, while BSA Director of Fine Arts Syeda Mahbuba Karim and BSA Secretary Md Asaduzzaman also spoke at the event. The participating artists who were nominated as winners of 12 awards in 11 categories and one overall grand award winner in the exhibition, received their respective awards, certificates and prize money cheques at the ceremony. Read: Curtain rises on Shilpo Bangla Art Exhibition Artists Sajia Rahman Sondha received the title award as the best artist of all mediums in the exhibition, while artists Sujon Mahabub (performance art), Samia Ahmed (installation art), Halima Akter (ceramic), Md Fayez Alam Hasan (painting), Sushmita Mukherjee Misty (sculpture), Rumana Rahman (printmaking), Showrab Gosh (oriental art), Mahatab Rashid (graphics design), Rajan Nandi (crafts), Jewel Chakma (new media art), and Shahedul Islam Sadik (photography) won awards in respective categories. A unique and specially curated subject-based art installation is being displayed at the 3rd gallery of the National Art Gallery by 10 educational institutions of the country including Dhaka University, Chittagong University, Rajshahi University, Khulna University, National Poet Kazi Nazrul Islam University and more, which is planned and researched by BSA Director General Lucky. The primary selection committee comprised Professor Pranab Mitra Chowdhury, artist Kamal Pasha Chowdhury, Professor Dr Nihar Ronjon Singha, artist Shayla Sharmin, photographer Ashfaque Ahmed and artist Zihan Karim. The jury board for selecting the best artworks featured Professor Abul Barq Alvi, Dr Farida Zaman, artist Siddhartha Talukder, artist Lala Rukh Selim, artist Ziaul Karim and eminent photographer Nasir Ali Mamun. Since 1975, the biennale exhibition has earned recognition from art-lovers around the whole nation as a festivity and celebration of modern artworks and crafts by artists from all over the country. The exhibition will continue till August 25, every day from 11 pm to 8 pm and 3 pm on 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 number galleries and the sculpture arena at the National Art Gallery.