Exhibition
Jewellery exhibition 'Pleasantness: The Story of Madhuree' begins at AFD
Fashion consultant Madhuree Sanchita Smrity's jewellery exhibition began at La Galerie, Alliance Française de Dhaka (AFD) Friday.
The "Pleasantness: The Story of Madhuree" has been arranged with pieces of jewellery crafted out of seeds from different trees, soils, oysters, joists, conches, pearls and other natural resources along with golds, silvers, steels, irons, coppers, and brasses.
Madhuree, now working for fashion house Rang, was born in Jhalakathi. She completed her honours from the Faculty of Fine Art of Dhaka University in 2006.
"The Pleasantness: The Story of Madhuree" is Madhuree's first solo jewellery exhibition. It is devoted to her immense interest in finding the beauty of nature, and nature's impact on her life and contemporary thoughts.
"The nature that surrounds me is my inspiration. From the beginning of creation, people consciously and subconsciously nurtured nature in different ways. Since childhood, I have been fascinated by nature's beauty, smell and rhythm," the fashion consultant said.
Read: Curtain rises on Shilpo Bangla Art Exhibition
"Leaves' colour, shapes of roots, ocean waves, riversides, colours of the sky, and the way they change in different seasons moved me. I coloured my work with natural colours as well."
"I use seeds with yarns, wooden beads, clays, conches, pearls, coppers, silvers and golds. Seeds are the source of life, the root of all creation. Using seeds with other elements, I convey my love for nature, and want to give life to my creations," Madhuree said.
The exhibition will be open to all till July 8, Monday to Saturday, from 3pm to 9pm.
Curtain rises on Shilpo Bangla Art Exhibition
The first edition of the Shilpo Bangla Art Exhibition was inaugurated Monday at the Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy's National Art Gallery.
The exhibition, presented by Mahfuz Canvas and co-sponsored by Moon Calligraphy, is showcasing over 250 paintings, ranging from calligraphies to contemporary artworks.
Ekushey Padak winning artist-sculptor Hamiduzzaman Khan inaugurated the exhibition.
Mahfuz Canvas, an organisation founded by renowned international artist Mahfuzur Rahman, is the title sponsor of the event.
Mahfuzur supported several online and offline art events and exhibitions in the past three years to provide self-taught artists of Bangladesh with a welcoming and encouraging international platform.
The founders of Shilpo Bangla, calligraphy artist couple Sultana Mimi and Jamil Ahmed, want to offer a forum for Bangladeshi creative and energetic entrepreneurs.
The Shilpo Bangla Art Exhibition will welcome visitors till June 30 from 11am to 7pm.
Also read: 'Reminiscence of Dreams': Jogen Chowdhury's solo exhibition goes on
Azmeer Hossain's 'The Beckoning Horizon' goes on at Edge Gallery
Painter Azmeer Hossain's fifth solo exhibition "The Beckoning Horizon," which began on June 18, is still underway at the Edge Gallery in Dhaka's Gulshan, showcasing an enchanting collection of abstract works.
Hosted by Edge, The Foundation, the exhibition features 62 paintings by the artist.
Eminent Bangladeshi artists Hamiduzzaman Khan, Mohammad Eunus, Biren Shome, Afrozaa Jamil Konka and others were present at the opening ceremony of the exhibition, which is displaying more than 50 pictures painted in watercolour while the rest of the paintings are made using acrylic and mixed media.
'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.
British Council brings exhibition “BANGLA” for local art connoisseurs
The British Council has organised an exhibition styled as ‘BANGLA’ to commemorate 50 years of Bangladesh’s independence with Tower Hamlets.
Dhaka-based architecture studio Paraa, in collaboration with Tower Hamlets Libraries and Archives, National Portrait Gallery, London, citizen researchers (local community members) and The Rainbow Collective, has recently come up with a collaborative piece of artwork reflecting on the work of citizen researchers from the British Bangladeshi community, who have been exploring the role people in Tower Hamlets played in the independence of Bangladesh and the legacy of the 1971 on the local community.
The British Council is supporting a viewing of the artwork through this exhibition in Dhaka, said a media release on Wednesday.
The exhibition kicked off at the British Council in the city on June 16 and will continue till July 16. The exhibition is open for all from 9am 5pm.
On the opening day, an Artist Talk with Ruhul Abdin was held where a conversation with the National Portrait Gallery discussing this collaborative piece of artwork as part of the CITIZEN UK initiative was initiated.
Ruhul Abdin and Sadiqul Islam Shehab of Paraa worked with material collected by these citizen researchers to create this collaborative piece of artwork as part of the National Portrait Gallery (London) CITIZEN UK initiative.
Read: British Council’s 'UK 1971: People's Solidarity with Bangladesh's Liberation’ exhibition begins
To commemorate 50 years of Bangladeshi independence, the new public artwork has been installed at the Tower Hamlets Idea Store in Whitechapel, London. It signifies the diverse people that make up Tower Hamlets’ Bangladeshi community.
Covering the letters in saree fabric refers to the fabric industry which employed many Bengali workers in Tower Hamlets (and is still a prominent industry in Bangladesh supplying many UK clothing retailers).
Each letter is wrapped in a different colour inspired by Biman Mullick’s design for the first set of stamps representing Bangladesh as a new nation in 1971.
The artwork will remain permanently in the borough of Tower Hamlets at the Idea Store, as a reminder of the stories connected to 1971 and the Bangladeshi community of East London.
Photo exhibition titled “We are Rohingya” in city Monday
UN refugee agency - UNHCR and the Liberation War Museum of Bangladesh will host an exhibition titled “We are Rohingya” which will be inaugurated on Monday.
The exhibition will be opened at 11:00 am in the temporary exhibition hall of the Liberation War Museum in Dhaka.
On the occasion of World Refugee Day, this photographic exhibition presents the work of 10 Rohingyas who photographed people living in the refugee camps of Cox’s Bazar.
Curated by David Palazon and Amena Khatun from the Liberation War Museum, the display includes 50 photographs that capture the culture, identity, hopes and dreams of people who escaped from violence and persecution in Myanmar and found refuge in Bangladesh.
READ: Rohingyas: Dhaka asks Nay Pyi Taw to expedite verification for early repatriation
The exhibition also includes 11 photographs from the Liberation War Museum archives that capture the lives and stories of Bangladeshi nationals, who in 1971 were forced to flee and lived as refugees, during the Liberation War.
This exhibition shows how the lived memory of millions of Bangladeshi uprooted during the Liberation War has inspired the generosity and protection the country is now extending to the persecuted Rohingya from neighbouring Myanmar, said the UNHCR.
ULAB-MSJ Department Launches Curriculum Integration Exhibition
The highly anticipated opening session and film screening of the Curriculum Integration (CI) Program Exhibit Spring Term 2022 took place on Friday at the Bangladesh Film Archive Auditorium, Agargaon in the capital.
Department of Media Studies and Journalism (MSJ, University of Liberal Arts Bangladesh (ULAB) organized the exhibition.
Every semester, the MSJ department conducts the CI Exhibit to provide a platform for the students to display their artistic works, allow student engagement, and encourage for future projects.
According to ULAB, the program teaches values to students by putting them in real life situations.
The exhibit showcased various student projects such as performance art, communication campaign materials, visual art, digital art, video art, photographs, animation, advertisements, documentaries, digital stories and films.
Multiculturalism was the theme chosen for the Spring Term 2022 Curriculum Integration Program.
Multiculturalism denotes the way society interacts with cultural diversity, and it conveys the belief that society is enriched by preserving, appreciating, and even fostering cultural diversity. It is based on the fundamental notion that members of diverse cultures can cohabit harmoniously.
ULAB Vice-Chancellor Professor Imran Rahman inaugurated the event. “The authorities of the university have a strong commitment in promoting media in the country. So, the Media Studies and Journalism Department tries to prepare its graduates by updating its courses and curriculum in consultation with stakeholders from the media industry on a regular basis," he said regarding the program.
Media Studies and Journalism Department Head Professor Jude William Genilo, in his address, said: “Tolerance is about treating everyone with respect and dignity. It goes hand in hand with courage, inner strength, and intelligence. We need to nurture tolerance among our students, this is why we chose Multiculturalism as our theme for Spring Term 2022.”
Special Guest Md Nizamul Kabir, Director General of Bangladesh Film Archive, emphasized the vital role the youth can play in the progress of the film industry and applauded ULAB for nurturing creativity among students.
Chief Guest Alan L Deniega, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of the Philippines, said: "Harmonious coexistence between different cultures can benefit the society by allowing increased diversity. Access to different ideas and promote positive dialogue among the people. We can find joy in the discovery of our differences.”
The Visual Exhibit is now available online until June 13 and can be accessed at www.ulabmsjci.net.
Read: ULAB celebrates 17th Foundation Day
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