Arts | The Daily Star

  • Photo exhibition ‘It’s Not My Clothing, It’s Your Eyes!’ challenges societal norms

    Organised by Paraa as a part of the Chol X Shama Kun fashion campaign, a photo exhibition, titled ‘It’s not My Clothing, It’s Your Eyes!’, is currently underway at the Paraa studio. The exhibition started on February 12 and will end tomorrow.

  • Arcadia Arts Gallery opened with group show of eminent artists

    Arcadia Arts Gallery, located at the heart of Banani, opened with an important group show recently. The exhibition, which began on February 16, is showcasing artworks of some of the most eminent artists of the country and beyond, such as Zainul Abedin, Quamrul Hasan, SM Sultan, Alakesh Ghosh, Ivy Zaman, Kanak Chanpa Chakma, and Kalidas Karmakar among others. The co-founders of this hub, Khan Rezaul Hoq and Arneeb Chaudhury, are distinguished art collectors.

  • Female artists celebrate the spirit of the Language Movement with ‘Ekusher Chetonay’

    Empowered by the spirit of the Language Movement, COLOURS, a collective of contemporary female artists, recently organised an art exhibition at Studio 6/6, Mohammadpur. Titled “Ekusher Chetonay”, the exhibition began on February 25, and will go on till March 6. It was inaugurated by renowned artist Professor Naima Haque from University of Dhaka and actor Bhaskar Bandyopadhyay.

  • Photographers Dream BD hosts ‘Capture Your Dreams 2021’

    Photographers Dream BD recently organised a photo exhibition, ‘Capture Your Dreams 2021’, at Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy. Chitta Ranjan Das, Councilor of Dhaka South City Corporation, was the chief guest at the event. Among 4000 photographs, 295 were selected from the final round in four categories: Mobile photography, DSLR photography, Wedding photography and Drone photography. The selected photographs were on display at the exhibition.

  • Shat Bochorer Khatiyan: A retrospective of Professor Nisar Hossain

    Renowned artist, critic, and activist Nisar Hossain’s solo art exhibition “Shat Bochorer Khatiyan” is underway at Gallery Chitrak. It was launched on February 19, and will conclude on March 19, 2021. Gallery Chitrak inaugurated their journey in their new location at Dhanmondi with this exhibition.

  • Bishwajit Goswami’s installation near Bakkhali River commemorates International Mother Language Day

    ‘Maa-Maati-Manush-Swadesh-Bhasha-Prokkriti (Mother-Earth-People-Homeland-Language-Nature)’ is a site-specific installation by Bishwajit Goswami near Bakkhali River at Moheshkhali, in association with Brihatta Art Foundation. Artist and professor Bishwajit Goswami envisions to tell an artistic story rooted in a unique environment, creating an atmosphere for cultural and linguistic exchange.

  • ‘Anatomies of Tongues’ explored in ‘Chobi Mela Shunno’

    While the world celebrates International Mother Language Day, the special edition of Chobi Mela, in association with their cultural partner Colomboscope, sets a thought-provoking linguistic intervention through ‘Anatomies of Tongues’.

  • ‘Cheragi Art Show Bhinno’ incorporates contemporary art into modern architecture

    Ever since its inception in 2012, Jog Art Space has been working with artistes and viewers to create a space that allows cultural conversations to bloom. By allowing people to interact and connect, it has blended various art forms into a multidisciplinary street art show. Their collective exhibition, entitled "Cheragi Art Show Bhinno'' is currently underway in "Chobi Mela Shunno”, at DrikPath Bhobon, Panthapath.

  • Wishing Tree: Chobi Mela’s tribute to architect Bashirul Haq

    Noted architect Bashirul Haq passed away in April 2020. He had designed DrikPath Bhobon, the venue for this year’s “Chobi Mela”. “Wishing Tree”, an exhibition featuring Haq’s seminal works, is being hosted at the festival, in honour of him.

  • Yasmin Jahan Nupur explores the pandemic with ‘Time could not be kept at bay’

    "[Off] Limits", a group exhibition currently underway in "Chobi Mela Shunno” at DrikPath Bhobon, features projects by fourteen South Asian artistes. Yasmin Jahan Nupur’s ‘Time could not be kept at bay’ is one of the featured artworks in the exhibition, which includes performance photographs, text display and a video.

  • Chobi Mela’s ‘Chapakhana Archive’ explores print revolution in Dhaka

    In its array of collaborative initiatives, “Chobi Mela Shunno” introduced ‘Chapakhana Archive’, a research project. On the fourth floor of the DrikPath Bhobon, an excerpt of a nine-month project, exploring documents and local histories of print in Dhaka and its production technologies, is on display. The framework of the exhibition comes from Mara Züst’s research for her project, ‘Kolkata — City of Print’, in association with Pathshala.

  • Go Back to Roots: An exhibition of life in the hill tracts

    "Go Back To Roots'', a solo project by artist Joydeb Roaja, is currently on exhibit in "Chobi Mela Shunno'' at DrikPath Bhobon, Panthapath. It features 10 artworks, along with a video, and attempts to highlight the cultural identities of indigenous communities in the hill tracts of Chattogram.

  • Pappu Studio brings nostalgia to ‘Chobi Mela Shunno’

    `cMarking Solidarity Day, students of the ninth batch of Pathshala honoured Ashrafi, also known as the Chobiwala of Bihari Camp Bazaar at “Chobi Mela Shunno''. A temporary studio was set up at the rooftop of DrikPath Bhobon, which not only allowed the audience to interact with the photographer, but also to get soaked in nostalgia. In a candid conversation, Ashrafi shared his story with The Daily Star.

  • Chobi Mela’s ‘[Off] Limits’ gathers photographers from across borders

    “[Off] Limits”, a group exhibition currently underway in “Chobi Mela Shunno” at DrikPath Bhobon, features projects by fourteen South Asian artistes. As a part of the festival’s intention of celebrating and promoting art, the photographs on display focus on life amidst the pandemic, while also looking back at the past to reminiscence over elements that have been forgotten.

  • Najmun Nahar Keya on her artistic inspirations

    Najmun Nahar Keya’s artistic journey began in Old Dhaka, where she grew up in the midst of beautiful architectural wonders and a family that encouraged her creative aspirations. Her artworks exhibit her inclination towards nostalgic memories, associated with archival photographs of her family, architectural beauty, new materials, recent societal and global political events, and personal experiences. Keya co-curated many shows before, but her first ever solo curated show is “Frozen Song”, an exhibition inspired by architect Bashirul Haq, currently underway at “Chobi Mela Shunno”.

  • Contemporary Dissent – Echoes of the 80’s

    In the podcast episode, ‘Contemporary Dissent – Echoes of the 80’s’ by “Chobi Mela Shunno'', Lotte Hoek and Catherine Masud share their experiences, looking back at their journeys in the late 1980’s and early 2000’s in Bangladesh. They talk about the parallels and differences in their journeys.

  • A panel discussion on workplace experiences of female journalists

    ''Chobi Mela Shunno'', currently underway at DrikPath Bhobon, celebrated Solidarity Day on February 15. A panel discussion featuring female journalists and photojournalists was held on that day. Moderated by Saydia Gulrukh, the discussion featured Joyeeta Roy, staff journalist at Bangladesh Protidin, Sabina Yasmine, staff photojournalist at Prothom Alo, Sadia Marium, member of the Kaali collective and Zyma Islam, staff reporter at The Daily Star.

  • Sabih Ahmed and Sohrab Hura discuss shared ecosystems and geographic realignments at Chobi Mela Shunno

    The special edition of Chobi Mela features a series of podcasts that include themes ranging from collective narratives to echoes of the 80s, thinking contexts, conversations and many more sharing of ideas in and around defining and (re)defining the meaning and interpretation of images. The podcast series is curated by artiste Munem Wasif who handpicked speakers ranging from artists to curators, filmmakers, writers, musicians and others.

  • Frozen Song: An exhibition inspired by architect Bashirul Haq

    Happening now at the newly opened DrikPath Bhobon at Panthapath, “Chobi Mela Shunno'' has successfully created a space for artists, thinkers, activists, and visionaries in self-reflective, experimental processes. “Frozen Song'', an exhibition of the festival, depicts the diversity and transformation of Drik and Pathshala. It is inspired by Bashirul Haq, the architect of DrikPath Bhobon.

  • Baba Betar: An innovative art radio and sound archive

    Baba Betar, an art radio and contemporary sound archive, started its journey in March 2020, during the countrywide shutdown, induced by the pandemic. It is being aired every day from 8 pm to 10 pm at this year’s “Chobi Mela”, on the festival’s website. Tomorrow (February 16) will be celebrated as “Baba Betar Day” at the event.

  • The muses of artist and curator Zihan Karim

    Chattogram-based visual artist Zihan Karim has curated a show at “Chobi Mela” for the second time. This year, the festival welcomes an energetic ensemble of South Asian artists to explore how they are dealing with these uncertain times.

  • ‘Chobi Mela Shunno’ kicks off

    Organised by Drik Picture Library Ltd and Pathshala South Asian Media Institute, the 2021 edition of “Chobi Mela”, begins today. Titled “Chobi Mela Shunno”, the festival started with an inaugural rally at DrikPath Bhobon in the afternoon. At the end of the rally, celebrated photographer Shahidul Alam, along with other curators inaugurated the festival with an introductory discussion on the exhibitions.

  • Wakilur Rahman’s ‘There is no story’ underway at Shilpangan Gallery

    Renowned artist Wakilur Rahman’s solo exhibition, “There is no story” is currently underway at Shilpangan Gallery, Dhanmondi.The exhibition features 37 artworks by him, which are dominated by the essence of black and white shades. The event was inaugurated by artist Abul Baqr Alvi on February 9. Art critic Javed Jalil was also present.

  • Shamset Tabrejee’s ‘Random Vignettes’ begins at Dwip Gallery tomorrow

    After being closed for several months due to the ongoing pandemic, Dwip Gallery reopens in February this year with new exhibitions and other events. Prominent poet and painter Shamset Tabrejee’s second solo exhibition, “Random Vignettes”, curated by Mustafa Zaman, will be held at the gallery from February 12 to 26.

  • ‘Chaapchitra Shommanona Prodorshoni 2021’ underway at Kala Kendra

    The exhibition, “Chaapchitra Shommanona Prodorshoni 2021”, organised by Kibria Printmaking Studio and Kala Kendra began yesterday. Every year, this exhibition starts with the Kibria International Print Fair, but this year, due to the coronavirus pandemic, the organisers were unable to organise the festival.

  • Reliving maestro Mohammad Shafiqul Islam’s expressions

    When it comes to expression and exposition, Professor Mohammad Shafiqul Islam needs no introduction. His works, recreating the magical mystery we see in exquisite artworks like that of Da Vinci’s Monalisa, still remains as a historic rebirth of life-like expression in the history of Asian art.

  • Majhi International Art Residency Program begins in Berlin

    Durjoy Bangladesh Foundation (DBF) is hosting the second edition of the Majhi International Art Residency Program. The curator of the second edition is Zippora Elders, currently based in Amsterdam and Berlin. While the first edition of the event was held in Venice last year, the second edition will take place from August 24 to September 12, 2020, in Berlin.

  • Eminent artist Murtaja Baseer no more

    Eminent artist Murtaja Baseer passes away at the age of 88.

  • ‘Vinima in Bangladesh’ concludes today

    A solo art exhibition titled, Vinima in Bangladesh, was inaugurated recently at Britto Arts Trust in Green Road, Dhaka. The exhibition is showcasing artifacts by Indian sculptor Vinima Gulati.

  • Honouring Shilpacharya Zainul Abedin and indigenous terracotta artists

    In honour of Shilpacharya Zainul Abedin and the indigenous terracotta artists of our country, a beautiful exhibition titled, Putul: Banglar Pran-Protima by Samina Nafis, concluded at Bangladesh National Museum recently.

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