Nitun Kundu’s fifth death anniversary observed
September 15 marked the fifth death anniversary of artist, sculptor, cultural figure, entrepreneur and a hero of the Liberation War, Nitun Kundu.
Kundu graduated from Dacca Art College (at present the Faculty of Fine Arts, University of Dhaka) in 1959. Apart from being a sculptor, he was also a painter and was recognised for both his abstract and realistic works.
During the Liberation War, Kundu worked with veteran painter Quamrul Hassan for the Public Relations department of the then Bangladesh Government-in exile at Mujibnagar. Some of his posters during the war earned him wide recognition. Most popular of these include “Shoda Jagrato Banglar Muktibahini”, “Amra Shobai Bangali” and “Banglar Bir Muktijoddha”.
Among his sculptures, “Shabash Bangladesh” and “The SAARC Fountain” are much acclaimed. With his designs, Kundu wanted to present complex structures in simple atmosphere. His metal-based works have an air of modernism and the designs have enriched the Bangladeshi contemporary art scenario.
Kundu was also known for his furniture designs. Wood and metal both were main ingredients of his works. He was the founder of Otobi and received several awards throughout his illustrious career, including Ekushey Padak, National Film Award, President Gold Cup and The Daily Star-DHL Best Entrepreneur Award.
Dravid Saikot's solo exhibition at Dhaka Art Centre
Dhaka Art Centre has organised a solo painting exhibition, titled “Something Like God” featuring the works of emerging painter Dravid Saikot.
Saikot uses the horse motif in many of his artworks as a symbol of vigour, strength and success. The horses appear well built and brawny in his paintings. His approach is semi-realistic and semi-abstract. The artist prefers working on large canvases, according to the requirement of his themes and styles. Most of his themes are intimately connected with each other. The artist uses space to gradually interact more with the figures (horses). His figures (especially movement) are always the most noticeable aspect of his canvas.
The exhibition was inaugurated on September 16. Noted cultural personality Asaduzzaman Noor (MP) was present as chief guest and inaugurated the exhibition. Abul Barq Alvi, Professor of the Printmaking Department, Faculty of Fine Arts (FFA), University of Dhaka; Shishir Bhattacharjee, Professor of Drawing and Painting Department, FFA and Nisar Hossain, Professor of Drawing and Painting Department, FFA spoke on the occasion.
The exhibition will continue till September 23.
Abir Abdullah's photo exhibition inaugurates at Drik Gallery
Noted photographer Abir Abdullah's three-day photo exhibition, titled “Plight of the Waterlogged People” inaugurated on September 20 at Drik Gallery, Dhanmondi in Dhaka.
Abdullah has been efficiently capturing the social, political and economic impacts of the rivers through his black and white as well as colour photographs.
In recent times, Abdullah was assigned by Oxfam's project, Campaign for Sustainable Rural Livelihoods (CSRL), to delineate the hardship of thousands of people through his powerful shots. The exhibition focuses on Satkhira where people have been waterlogged for the past few months.
CSRL convener and former advisor to the caretaker government, Dr. C.S. Karim inaugurated the photo exhibition. A steering committee member of CSRL, Dr. Ahsan Uddin Ahmed, Oxfam's Country Director Gareth Price Jones and Abir Abdullah spoke at the inauguration.
Abdullah embarked on his photographic career at Drik Picture Library in 1996. He currently works as a photo journalist with the Bangladesh bureau of the European Press Photo Agency (EPA). He has bagged many national and international awards, including the Mother Jones grant for his works on war veterans in Bangladesh. His photographs have been published in Time, Newsweek, Herald Tribune and others.
Painter Nurul Islam’s first death anniversary observed
Eminent painter Nurul Islam was recognised for his unique portrayal of curvaceous women with bold lines, subtle texture, as well as cubist forms.
September 16 marked his first death anniversary. On the occasion, a discussion and prayers was held at his son’s residence (32 Lake Circus Road) in Dhaka. Noted scholars, critics and painters took part in the discussion.
Nurul Islam was born in Tangail in 1933. He graduated from Dacca Art College (presently Faculty of Fine Arts, University of Dhaka) in 1956. His accomplishments included volumes of drawings, sketches, and paintings. He was a multitalented artist working practically in all mediums -- oil, watercolour, gouache, etching, pastel, woodcut, linocut, pen and pencil.
Most of his works highlight folk elements; recurring motifs are birds, greenery, fish, pitchers and bulls. His semi-realistic and semi-abstract works of rural areas were marked by his lucid, time-consuming technique.
Islam set out as a figurative painter. During the early stages of his career, his works focused on nature and human figures. Along with natural elements, lines and varied familiar and unfamiliar forms are predominant features of his paintings. Some of his works seem to convey solitude.