October 10, marked the 29th death anniversary of world-renowned artist SM Sultan. To observe the day, Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy (BSA) has organised a two-day programme including art exhibition, art camp, children's letter writing exhibition, palagan, puppet drama exhibition and discussion meeting, which was held on October 9 and 10.
The two-day programme began with placing a wreath at the portrait of artist SM Sultan at the National Chitrashala Bhaban of Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy at 4pm on Monday. After this, the exhibition was officially inaugurated with the artworks of artist SM Sultan and paintings of children of children's paradise.
BSA Director General Liaquat Ali Lucky, inaugurated the programme as chief guest. Later, he visited the gallery with children. He highlighted the life of artist SM Sultan and various aspects of his paintings to the children.
A number of forty paintings of world-renowned artists along with paintings of various artists of the country are being displayed at the National Art Gallery.The exhibition will run till October 17.
After the opening of the exhibition, a brief discussion session was held. Syeda Mahbuba Karim, director of the Fine Arts Department, delivered the welcome speech. She said, "Artist SM Sultan did not paint on the canvas on which we usually paint. He painted a canvas with a special process with rural mats. He made his own colour – from the soil, the bark and leaves of the trees.”
"Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy organizes various programs every year to keep him in heart. By organising this event, we remember him more and more,” she added.
"We are always looking for our places of pride, those places have been created by great artists like artist SM Sultan. We have to nurture and practice those places of glory. No one else has seen the nature of rural Bengal, the rural society, the way he saw the farmers,” said the BSA DG.
The academy's children's music team performed the group anthem at the beginning and end of the discussion. Later, the documentary “Adam Surat” on SM Sultan was screened.
The second day of the programme was held on Tuesday at artist SM Sultan’s hometown Narail. The programmes include placing wreaths at Sultan’s grave, puppet show, children’s art competition, discussion and film screening.
SM Sultan was born on August 10 in 1924 at Masimdia village of Narail. He got admitted to Calcutta Art College with the help of the then zamindars of Narail. His fame rests on his striking depictions of exaggeratedly muscular Bangladeshi peasants engaged in the activities of their everyday lives.
SM Sultan won ‘Ekushey Padak’ in 1982. In 1984, he was declared as the’ Resident Artist’ by the government. Sultan also achieved ‘Bangladesh Charu Shilpi Sangsad Award’ in 1986 and ‘Swadhinata Padak’ in 1993.
