Home ›› 30 Nov 2021 ›› Show Biz
The National Sculpture Exhibition has returned to the premises of Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy ending a long hiatus for around five years since 2016.
The academy is organising the fifth edition of the National Sculpture Exhibition in its National Art Gallery from Monday aiming at protection, development and expansion of the influential art medium of sculpture.
State Minister for Cultural Affairs KM Khalid inaugurated the month-long exhibition on Monday.
Cultural Affairs Ministry Secretary Md Abul Mansur, eminent sculptors Hamiduzzaman Khan and Alok Roy attended the inauguration ceremony presided over by BSA Director General Liakat Ali Lucky while BSA’a Director of Fine Arts Department Syeda Mahbuba Karim delivered the welcome speech.
The exhibition will remain open to visitors from 11:00am to 8:00pm on weekdays and 3:00pm to 8:00pm on weekends until December 28.
Sculptors Bijan Halder took home the top prize for the National Sculpture Award 2021 while Asmaul Husna Maria got the 2nd prize and Dinar Sultana Putul 3rd prize. Ten other sculptors were awarded honorary prizes.
Earlier, on Sunday, BSA organised a press briefing at its National Art Gallery Auditorium, to present details about the exhibition, which was attended by BSA Secretary Md Asaduzzaman, and Fine Arts Department’s Director Syeda Mahbuba Karim and Deputy Director Mostak Ahmed, among other officials.
Liakat Ali Lucky said, “Bangladesh has passed more than sixty years in sculpture artworks. In the late fifties of the last century, the modern sculpture was introduced in this country through Novera Ahmed. Afterwards, in the first half of the sixties, under the leadership of artist Abdur Razzaque along with Shilpacharya Zainul Abedin, the institutional practice of sculpture began in the then College of Arts and Crafts in Dhaka, which has now become an autonomous department in the fine arts faculties of different universities. Besides, many people from pottery and other art mediums are practising sculpture. The country currently has a rich and active group of sculptors.”
He added, “Many of the artists have created significant sculptures on the theme of our great Liberation War, struggle for freedom and the Language Movement. Despite that, there is still ambiguity and confusion in the public psyche about sculpture in the social reality of Bangladesh. Considering the protection, development and expansion of this powerful art medium, the BSA has come up with the plan to organise national, new and Asian art exhibitions as well as the National Sculpture Exhibition separately.”
The first National Sculpture Exhibition was held in 1976 and the second in 1983 on the initiative of Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy to provide support for the promotion, protection and expansion of the development of sculptural practice. After a long hiatus of 31 years, the 3rd National Sculpture Exhibition was held in 2014 and the 4th Sculpture Exhibition was held in 2016.
At the 5th National Sculpture Exhibition, the organisers selected a total of 114 artworks by 108 artists for exhibition after receiving a total of 254 submissions by 135 artists aged 21 and above from all over the country. Apart from this, one sculpture each of 18 invited and 5 late pioneer sculptors will also be exhibited. At the exhibition, a Liberation War-based sculpture corner also has been installed marking the Golden Jubilee of Independence.
The 16 invited sculptors are-- Hamiduzzaman Khan, Alok Roy, Shamim Sikder, Ivy Zaman, Muzibur Rahman, Rasha, Mahbub Jamal Shamim, Saidul Haque Juise, Sheikh Sadi Bhuiyan, Shyamol Chowdhury, Chowdhury Jahanara Parvin, Rezauzzaman Reza, Mostafa Sharif Anowar Tuhin, Mahbubur Rahman, Pranab Mitra Chowdhury, Mukul Kumar Barai and Nasima Haque Mitu.
The five pioneering late sculptors are Abdur Razzaque, Anwar Hossain, Nitun Kundu, Syed Abdullah Khalid and Ferdousi Priyabhashini.
