The birth centenary of Shilpacharya Zainul Abedin will be celebrated today, with various organisations planning programmes. The Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy has planned for year-long celebrations that will begin with the placing of floral wreaths on Zainul’s grave, followed by a rally today. Other Shilpakala Academy programmes will feature art competitions and exhibitions across the country, the publication of a memorial volume on Zainul Abedin, seminars on his works and life, the launch of commemorative postcards, traditional fairs, installation of a sculpture at the Shilpakala Academy.
Art gallery Bengal has planned a two-week exhibition of the works of Zainul Abedin and his family.
The National Museum has put on display 50 major paintings of Zainul at the Nalinikanta Bhattashali Gallery.
Zainul Abedin, born in Kishoreganj on December 29, 1914, died on May 28, 1976.
He received his degrees in fine arts from then Calcutta Government Art School and in London.
In 1948, he founded the Government Art Institute, which is now the fine arts faculty of Dhaka University.
Zainul’s famine sketches of the 1940s are the most remarkable. In 1975, he founded the Folk Art Museum at Sonargaon in Narayanganj and Zainul Abedin Sangrahashala, a gallery of his own works in Mymensingh.
-With New Age input
