Bangladesh National Museum has organised a retrospective of a selected 100 artworks based on the spirit of the war of independence.
The 21-day exhibition at the Nalini Kanta Bhattasali Gallery of the museum displays 100 artworks among which 47 paintings are by noted artists from its archive while the remaining 53 artworks have been gathered from young, aspiring artists.
The show offers the best works by the master artists like Shilpacharya Zainul Abedin, Quamrul Hassan, Shahabuddin Ahmed along with young talents like Biswajit Goswami, Mohammad Zahid Hossain and Mohammad Mahmudul Hasan.
The artworks done in an array of mediums depict the ’71 war from different perspectives. Shilpacharya Zainul Abedin’s Muktijoddha series, which is done with ink on paper, offers special attraction for the viewers. Each of the sketches depicts freedom fighters in vigorous action and also rejoicing of the triumph after the war. Another timeless creation by Shilpacharya Mukti Sangam revealing a procession of thousands of people holding placards is also on display.
Quamrul Hasan’s highly acclaimed poster Ei Janowar der Hotta Korte Hobey, which portrays the monstrous face of Pakistani army commander Yahya Khan of that time, sends a chill down the spine with the gruesome yet realistic illustration of the dictator. Another poster by Quamrul Hasan titled Amader Joy Shunishchit portrays numerous fists rising upwards spirited with vigour and desire for freedom.
The muscular body of a freedom fighter in a motion demonstrating his immense strength and agility has been portrayed in Shahabuddin Ahmed’s oil painting titled Muktijoddha.
An exemplary artwork Smrity ’71 by the renowned Rafiqun Nabi illustrating female freedom fighters with rifles fighting face to face with the invaders is also being exhibited.
In the section comprising artworks by the young painters, artist Biswajit Goswami’s Metamorphosis and Physical Existence, done by mixed media on printed glass has been included. Each of his three paintings contains a huge, black circle painted on the map of Bangladesh symbolizing the red sun in the national flag.
Mohammad Mahmudul Hasan Duranto has an installation constructed with steel depicting two freedom fighters with rifles. Tahmina Akter Lisa, on the other hand, has portrayed the scene of a killing field in her artwork titled Ora Ashbe Chupi Chupi.
The distressing condition of poor and injured freedom fighters has been highlighted in Mohammad Mainuddin’s oil painting Kankal, Kabar o Muktijoddhar Abostha.
The museum also honoured three young artists for their artworks. A jury board comprising of noted artists including Mostafa Manowar, Hashem khan and Abul Barak Alvi selected Biswajit Goswami, Mohammad Zahid Hossain and Mohammad Mahmudul Hasan for their artworks Metamorphosis and Physical Existence, Juddher Somoy and Duranta respectively.
Commenced on March 20, the exhibition will remain open from Saturday to Wednesday from 10:00am to 7:00pm till April 10.
-With New Age input
