Friday marked the 79th birth anniversary of the late eminent Bangladeshi printmaker Kalidas Karmakar. To commemorate the Faridpur-born and internationally renowned artist's birth anniversary, a grand event took place at Ambika Maidan in Faridpur city. Born on January 10, 1946 in Faridpur to a family of goldsmiths and artisans, the internationally renowned maestro cemented his legacy as one of the most respected artists of Bangladesh. On Friday afternoon, guests inaugurated the program with releasing balloons and lighting lamps, which was followed by a drawing competition for children and a cultural program, under the patronage of the artist's family. Over a hundred children from various schools in the city participate in the drawing competition. Additionally, local artists showcased musical performances, and the celebration was complemented with a cake cutting ceremony. Members of Kalidas Karmakar’s family, leaders of the cultural organization, and distinguished individuals were present at the event. Regarding the event, Kalidas Karmakar’s younger brother Proshanta Karmakar Buddha said, "Today is the 79th birth anniversary of the eminent artist, my elder brother Kalidas Karmakar; and to enlighten our next generation of artists about his life and works, we organised the event from the family." AR-VR exhibition featuring July uprising posters opens at BSA "Throughout his entire life, Kalidas Karmakar worked to elevate the country's art to the world; he was a globetrotter throughout his life and had many options to settle abroad, but he always chose his motherland and became an internationally acclaimed artist. The art competition we have arranged today will not have any top place holder, rather we want them to draw as they wish and flourish their artistic talent, just like Kalidas Karmakar," he added. Rezaul Karim, a visitor, said, "The Ekushey Padak-winning artist Kalidas Karmakar is the pride of our Faridpur. We are extremely happy that today we are being able to celebrate his birth anniversary with this special event at his birthplace." "Artist Kalidas Karmakar is a globally acclaimed artist, but we were unable to properly celebrate his eventful life and works," stated Shipra Goswami, a local women's leader. "In order for the next generation to learn about our great artist, it is the duty of both the government and the people of our local community to plan and organize such events." At the ceremony, Kalidas Karmakar's younger brother Proshanta Karmakar Buddha informed that an archive in Faridpur is being established to preserve the eminent artist's work. An art college, in honor of the 'alluvial' artist, is also planned to be established in Faridpur, Prashanta Karmakar Buddha stated. A maestro of printmaking especially viscosity printing, Kalidas Karmakar’s diverse artworks featuring metallic and other objects, handmade paper, and oil on canvas prints have been widely exhibited throughout South Asia, the Middle East, Europe, the United States and many other places across the world. Shilpacharya Zainul Abedin’s 110th birth anniversary being observed Known as the ‘Alluvial Man’ in the country's art sphere, Kalidas began his career in paintings through assembling metal objects in the 1970s and with prints, he began to explore mythical images in the ‘80s, opening up new possibilities for etching and aquatint. His maiden solo art exhibition was held at Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy on August 7, 1976; and more than 50 of his exhibitions were held in 70 countries across the world. Throughout his illustrious career, he received multiple prestigious scholarships and fellowships, including the Polish Government Scholarship in Graphic Art at the Warsaw Academy of Fine Art, Warsaw University; the French Government Superior Scholarship in Fine Arts for research in multicolour etching at Atelier-17, in Paris; Japan Foundation Fellowship on Japanese Woodblock Printing at Tokyo National University of Fine Arts and Music; ICCR Special Scholarship for research in Contemporary Modern Sculpture, West Bengal Lalit Kala Academy Studio; and Asian Cultural Council New York, Fellowship with Artist Residency program in the US, to name a few. He was one of the advisers of Gallery Cosmos and the modern state-of-the-art printmaking studio Atelier71 at the gallery venue in Cosmos Centre, Malibagh in the capital, for which he had always shown great dedication. He was engaged with the gallery till his death on October 18, 2019, following a heart attack. For his remarkable contribution to the Bangladeshi fine arts, Kalidas Karmakar was awarded the Shilpakala Padak in 2016 and the Ekushey Padak in 2018.

Bangladesh Shilpakla Academy (BSA) launched an exclusive live and AR-VR (augmented-virtual reality) interactive exhibition titled ‘July Uprising on Posters’ featuring artist Debashish Chakrabarty's July Uprising artworks at the National Art Gallery in the capital. BSA’s Production Department organised the exhibition with an opening ceremony at the National Art Gallery Auditorium on Tuesday, January 7. Dr Asif Nazrul, adviser to the Ministry of Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs and the Ministry of Expatriate Welfare and Foreign Employment, joined the ceremony as the chief guest. Director General of Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy Dr Syed Jamil Ahmed presided over the event. Eminent photographer, curator, activist and managing director of Drik Picture Library, Dr Shahidul Alam; writer, journalist, and managing director of Bangladesh News Agency (BSS), Mahabub Morshed; and director of the Fine Arts Department of Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy, Mustafa Zaman, were also present as the special guests at the opening ceremony. ‘Remembering Monsoon Revolution’: 8 directors selected to make films on July uprising Writer and researcher Parvez Alam joined live from Amsterdam, Netherlands’, and artist Debashish Chakrabarty joined live from the US. Abdul Halim Chanchal, Director of the Production Department of Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy delivered the welcome speech on the occasion. Dr Asif Nazrul said, "The fascist government's use of filthy narrative-making tactics has been demonstrated to us over the past 15 years; several claims of development advancement have been made through those tactics. A minimal poster can make a significant impact on developing an intriguing narrative, and it has also contributed to the July Uprising that we have seen through Debashish’s excellent works.” "Graffiti can be a powerful medium that we have not seen in the political context of the last 15 years," the adviser stated in reference to the July movement art graffiti. “Graffiti might not be around in the future, but if it is documented properly, it will be sustained—thus the Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy's endeavour is commendable from that perspective.” Dr Syed Jamil Ahmed, Director General of the Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy, stated, "Artist Debashish Chakrabarty has enviably demonstrated how art can be both a political tool and a work of art at the same time. The artist deserves appreciation for his ability to maintain his artistic integrity in the face of the revolution and widespread unrest.”

Oprah Winfrey is beginning 2025 with an old favorite. She has selected Eckhart Tolle's “A New Earth: Awakening to Your Life Purpose” for her book club, marking the first time she has chosen a publication twice. Winfrey, who launched her club in 1996, also picked “A New Earth” in 2008 and featured it in a series of webinars she hosted with Tolle. “A New Earth” was originally released in 2005 and has sold millions of copies. “As we welcome a new year, I wanted to revisit the book that had more effect on me than any other book by a living author has had on my perception of how I understand my connection to the world,” Winfrey said in a statement Tuesday. “As Eckhart’s work continues to speak to people from all generations, this podcast conversation is an offering to hear about his groundbreaking work ‘A New Earth’ and allow us all to experience brand new a-ha’s.” A Winfrey-Tolle video podcast discussion, held recently at a Starbucks Reserve in the Empire State Building, can be seen on Winfrey's YouTube channel and other outlets. Last month, Winfrey launched “The Oprah Podcast,” a weekly series that will include book club authors. The interviews are presented in partnership with Starbucks. Read: Michelle Obama, Oprah Winfrey headline arena like rock stars “I am deeply grateful to Oprah for having made spirituality accessible to a mainstream audience,” Tolle said in a statement. "Now, for the second time, she has chosen ‘A New Earth’ for her Book Club, thus bringing it to a new generation of readers at a time of increasing collective challenges. As there is no awakening and no gain in consciousness without challenges, we live in truly auspicious times!”

The Ministry of Cultural Affairs has selected eight directors to make films on the July uprising under its “Remembering Monsoon Revolution” programme. These directors will lead workshops in eight divisions of the country and produce medium-length films with the trained personnel. Cultural Affairs Ministry unveils seven priority projects to inspire youth after July Revolution Suman Rahman, a member of the search committee, announced the names of the directors on Tuesday at a press conference held at the Secretariat. Cultural Affairs Adviser Mostofa Sarwar Farooki was present at the press conference. Rahman said that the search committee aimed to select filmmakers who will conduct workshops in eight divisional cities of Bangladesh in 2025 and create eight films with participants trained during the workshops. The selected directors are: Anom Biswas, Humayra Bilkis, Shankha Dasgupta, Shaheen Dil Riaz, Robiul Alam Robi, Tasmiya Afrin Mou, and Mohammad Tawkir Islam. Shilpacharya Zainul Abedin’s 110th birth anniversary being observed While outlining the initiative's objectives, Rahman said, “Firstly, the aim is to establish communication between young people interested in film production, both inside and outside Dhaka, and to provide opportunities for them to develop their skills and talents. Second, to directly apply the knowledge and skills acquired through the training by participating in film production with the same trainers.” He added, “There is no fixed framework for these workshops and film productions. This will allow artists to implement their own work methods and creativity to the fullest, and they will be more comfortable creating artistic, politically charged, revolutionary, and youth-oriented languages.” Rahman also expressed hope that the films would reflect the experiences of Bangladeshis, particularly following the long period of struggles and the blood-soaked July-August revolution. "We hope to see an artistic representation of that in these films," he said. Cultural Affairs Adviser Mostofa Sarwar Farooki said, “In selecting these film directors, we didn’t look at whether they had done 50 films; what mattered more was whether they had done a work that we could refer to. We tried to see if they had the spark.” He also assured that the selected directors have complete freedom to create their films. “We have given them complete freedom regarding what they will create. We don’t want this to become another failed government project. We want these eight films to be engaging. We want these films to show the way forward for the future of filmmaking. These elements will certainly be present in their stories.” Curtain rises on 6th National Sculpture Exhibition at BSA The government will provide full financial support for the films' creation. The directors, along with the search committee, will determine the budget. Farooki said that the production work for these films must be completed by June. The ministry will create a Google form for each division’s workshop, allowing interested individuals to apply. The directors of the respective divisions will select the candidates, according to Rahman.

Sunday marks the 110th Birth Anniversary of the master painter and pioneering art maestro Zainul Abedin, widely revered as the 'Shilpacharya' (great master of fine arts). Shilpacharya Zainul Abedin was born on December 29, 1914, in Kishoreganj in then-British India, and was a key figure in the establishment of the Dhaka University Faculty of Fine Art (FFA) and the Folk Art Museum in Sonargaon, Narayanganj. The artist community is celebrating the 110th birth anniversary of the Shilpacharya with a variety of celebrations, most notably the traditional three-day ‘Zainul Utshab’ on December 27, 28 and 29 by Dhaka University's Faculty of Fine Art and Bangladesh Folk Art & Crafts Foundation, every day from 10 am to 8 pm. The festival commenced with an inaugural ceremony on Friday (27 December) at 10 am, at the courtyard of the DU Faculty of Fine Art. DU Treasurer Professor M Jahangir Alam Chowdhury inaugurated the event. The event was also joined by Dhaka University Proctor and Associate Professor Saifuddin Ahmed, Dean of the Faculty of Fine Art Professor Dr Azharul Islam Sheikh, Emeritus Professor Abul Hashem Khan, art maestro Professor Dr Md Abdus Sattar, Shilpacharya’s youngest son Engineer Mainul Abedin, Director of the Bangladesh Folk and Craft Foundation Kazi Mahbubul Alam, CEO of Berger Paints Bangladesh Limited Md Mohsin Habib Chowdhury, and fashion house Bishwa Rong founder-owner Biplab Saha, among others. After the inaugural ceremony, the exhibition of artworks created by various artists commenced. On the second day of the festival, Professor Abdus Sattar delivered a commemorative lecture on Saturday at 3:30 pm. On Sunday, the concluding day of the festival, the Faculty of Fine Art and other art organisations placed floral wreaths on the grave of the Shilpacharya at 9 am. This year, the prestigious ‘Zainul Award 2024' award was presented to Professor Mizanur Rahim and Professor Rafiqul Alam. Bishwajit Roy's solo sculpture exhibition 'Haat Katali' opens at AFD Zainul Abedin earned global respect for his 1943 illustrations of the Bengal famine. He visited Palestinian camps in Syria and Jordan in 1970 and made 60–70 paintings of the refugees there, adding another example of his calibre as a modern, international artist. During childhood, he discovered his love of art while a young child frolicking by the Brahmaputra river. His motherland, Bangladesh (then East Pakistan), welcomed him back after he graduated from the Government Art School in Kolkata in 1932. However, shortly after the Indian subcontinent was divided in 1947, he permanently departed Kolkata and returned to his motherland in Bangladesh. The Dhaka Art Institute was subsequently founded with active help from Zainul Abedin, who was appointed as the institute's principal in 1949. The institute later developed into Dhaka University's Faculty of Fine Art. The institute became the hub of fine arts practices in then East Pakistan and actively participated in historical foundation events of independent Bangladesh such as the 1952 Language Movement and the 1971 Liberation War under the_ artistic leadership of Zainul. He retired from the Dhaka Art Institute in 1967 and was conferred the honorary title of Shilpacharya (great master of fine arts) by the institute. Before taking the mantle of Shilpacharya, Zainul Abedin received two years of training from the Slade School of Fine Art in London and developed a new style of art called the 'Bengali style' featuring folk art forms with their geometric shapes including the usage of semi-abstract representation and primary colours. However, he lacked the sense of perspective, realised the limitations of folk art, and went back to nature, rural life and the daily struggles of people to make art that would be realistic but modern in appearance, thus being the pioneer of modern artistic style in the subcontinent. Known for the simple yet majestic projection of natural and social hazards, Zainul painted the 1970 Bhola cyclone that devastated then East Pakistan, portraying the effect of the cyclone through his painting ‘Monpura’. As a fond lover of folk arts, Zainul formed Charu O Karu Shilpi Sangram Parishad and also collected a large number of traditional crafts, ceramic works, and nakshi kanthas in his lifetime which he preserved through founding the Folk Art Museum at Sonargaon, Narayanganj in 1975. He also founded the Zainul Abedin Sangrahashala, a gallery of his works at the Shaheeb Quarter Park on the bank of his nostalgia-infused Brahmaputra River in Mymensingh in the same year. In 1973, Zainul received an honorary D.Litt from Delhi University. He was declared the National Professor of Bangladesh in 1975. NASA honoured the iconic artist by naming a crater on the planet Mercury after the painter, called the 'Abedin Crater' in 2009. The revered artist passed away in Dhaka on May 28, 1976, after losing his battle with lung cancer. He was buried beside the Dhaka University Central Mosque.

Artist Bishwajit Roy's solo sculpture exhibition 'Hat Katali' was inaugurated at La Galerie, Alliance Française de Dhaka (AFD) on Friday at 5 pm. The exhibition was inaugurated by eminent contemporary visual artist Mahbubur Rahman. Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy’s Fine Arts Director Mustafa Zaman was also present at the inauguration. Bishwajit Roy, a native of Sundarbans’ Channir Chack village in Khulna, derives inspiration from the region's unique biodiversity and folklore. 'Hat Katali' symbolizes the cultural and historical essence of the Sundarbans’ wildlife and its critical ecological value. The exhibition highlights the region’s biodiversity, including the endangered Bengal tiger and other animals, emphasizing the need for conservation through creative storytelling. Curtain rises on 6th National Sculpture Exhibition at BSA Bishwajit Roy's art revolves around nature, mythology, and the Sundarbans' socio-political narratives, bringing forth a blend of tradition and modernity. The artist employs materials such as ceramic, terracotta and natural materials to explore the untamed spirit of the Sundarbans’ natural heritage. The exhibition will remain open to the public until January 7, 2025, everyday 5 pm to 9 pm except for Sunday.

The Bhumi Gallery and Gallery Shilpangan are set to embrace and mesmerize art enthusiasts and connoisseurs with the art exhibition titled ‘Epic Journey of a Migratory Bird’ by the contemporary artist Syed Golam Dastagir in the capital's Lalmatia, opening on December 28. The art exhibition will be inaugurated by Professor Abdullah Abu Sayeed and will be presided over by the distinguished artist Hamiduzzaman Khan. The inextricable relationship between a person and nature begins at birth and marks a nomadic voyage of wandering souls into alleys that carry the history, legacy, and colors of eons and epochs. The artist documented this visual journey in his evocative work under this exhibition by using various forms of colors and canvas. He portrayed this epic journey with great eloquence that is experienced not only through sight but also conscience that defies barriers and borders and is a reminder of the interconnectedness and coexistence of life. This solo exhibition comprises the works of the artist’s over a decade-long project, started from 2010 to 2024, and depicts the journey of migratory birds through vulnerability and resilience. Around 40 curated artworks will be displayed for the visitors at the exhibition, showcasing the artist’s unwavering dedication and toil to express and manifest his inner monologues, understanding, epiphany and liberty, which ought to create an impeccable connection between the viewers and a greater perspective. Read:  Curtain rises on 6th National Sculpture Exhibition at BSA This exhibition is a floating anecdote that aims to give the audience a new context of seeing and perceiving the palpable nuances in objectivity and attitude, leading to the moment of realization through the passage of time. While this project explores the relationship between a bird’s flight and its visual perception, Dastagir examines the birds’ perpetual movement and struggle for survival and dissects the observational engagement with the existential cryptographs embedded in the typography of shades, shapes, patterns, and vivid forms. In this solo exhibition, the artist delves deeply into the wonder and magnificence of bird migration, buttressed by technological methods, including map study, satellite imagery and strong artistic manifestation, offering the viewers to ponder how our visual perception connects with the intangible narratives of understanding, transcending beyond a bird’s instinct of searching, navigating, and reinventing across distances. The solo visual exhibition will remain open for visitors til January 14, 2025.

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.

Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy (BSA) presented a stand-up comedy show for the first time on Friday, focusing on contemporary social and political realities. Organized by the Department of Drama and Film, the comedy show titled 'Joke er Rajneeti' was performed at the Academy's Experimental Theatre Hall on Friday evening. Akhlaq Siddiqui, Shawon Majumder, Syed Ridwan Hasan, Mehedi Hasan Toru and Sami Doha presented their jokes, enamoring the audiences. At the inaugural ceremony, Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy Director General Dr Syed Jamil Ahmed said, "The Shilpakala Academy is always people-friendly; we want to create a people-friendly environment with everyone. Our programs are going on not only in Dhaka but also in the districts." "Starting from photography training for garment workers, concerts, band shows, Jatra festivals, Sadhumelas, mass uprising songs, Bahas, sculpture exhibitions and other multi-dimensional programs across the country. Many of which have not been held in the last 15 years." Regarding the naming of the academy auditorium, the Director General said, "The Experimental Theater Hall has been named Selim Al Din Theatre, the Studio Theater Hall has been named Chandrabati Theatre. The National Theater Auditorium will be named Kobi Alaol Theatre. The Experimental Theater Hall will be opened for drama performances from December 28, 2024." On December 27, at 7pm, the second episode of stand-up comedy 'Stand Up Bangladesh' will be performed by the Buno Payra troupe, focusing on contemporary, social and political realities at the Experimental Theater Hall.

To preserve the memory of July and revive the spirit of the July Movement among everyone, the anti-fascist photo exhibition organised by Bangladesh Islami Chhatra Shibir has concluded at National Museum at Shahbagh. Titled 'Frame-a-Bondi 36 July: Obbhyutthyan er Purbapor’ (‘Framed Memories on 36 July: Before and After the Coup') the display came to a close on Monday. The three-day exhibition began earlier on Saturday (December 7) with the inauguration announced by Shibir’s central president Monzurul Islam at the Poet Sufia Kamal Auditorium of the National Museum. Musical Instrument Exhibition 'Harmony of Healing' begins at AFD Concluded with the closing announcement by Secretary General of Islami Chhatra Shibir Jahidul Islam on Monday, the exhibition showcased historic photographs highlighting the moments of the July 36 Movement, and shed the spotlight on the stories behind the movement and its martyrs' sacrifices, the consequences of the mass uprising, and the brave struggle of the students against the dictatorship.