Zainul Utshab 2016: Charukala wears a festive look

29 December, was the birthday anniversary of Shilpacharya Zainul Abedin, the master artist and pioneer of art education movement in what is now Bangladesh. Faculty of Fine Art (FFA), popularly known as Charukala, of University of Dhaka has been organising Zainul Utshab since 2009. Marking Shilpacharya 102nd birth anniversary, Charukala wears a festive look as Zainul Utshab 2016 goes on. Eminent artists, teachers of FFA, Dhaka University vice chancellor and cultural affairs minister placed wreaths at the grave of Shilpacharya on the morning. 

The festival was set off with a choral rendition of a Tagore song “Anandalok-e Mongolalok-e”. Cultural Affairs Minister Asaduzzaman Noor inaugurated the three-day festival as chief guest on Thursday. Jahanara Abedin, wife of Shilpacharya Zainul Abedin, attended the event as special guest. Professor Nisar Hossain, Dean of FFA, DU delivered welcome address while AAMS Arefin Siddique, Vice Chancellor of University of Dhaka presided over the programme.

Apart from the Zainul Mela, the opening day featured conferring Zainul Sammanona, unveiling of two busts of Shilpacharya, discussion, display and sale of artworks by all the departments of FFA, launching of a book on the compilation of 12 essays presented at the seminar marking birth centenary of Zainul Abedin and a cultural programme in the evening.     

Like previous years, the FFA authority honoured two eminent artists-professors -- Jogen Chowdhury (India) and Hashem Khan (Bangladesh) with Zainul Sammanona this year.  

“I was born and raised up in an idyllic ambience of Faridpur. I had a wonderful childhood memories in Bangladesh. Later, I had to leave the country with my family due to the partition of 1947. But my childhood memories drove me as an artist and what I am today. I am extremely honoured and delighted to receive the award,” said Jogen Chowdhury. 

“I am very lucky to receive the award after the name of Shilpacharya. I am thankful to the FFA authority for this,” said Hashem Khan who shared some personal memories and unknown stories of Shilpacharya and Bangabandhu.   

“The contributions of Shilpacharya Zainul Abedin in Bangladesh's practice of visual arts are monumental. The seeds of art that he first sowed in this part of the world, has now turned as vast banyan tree,” said Asaduzzaman Noor.  

The guests unveiled a book on the Zainul birth centenary seminar titled “Shotoborsher Alokey Zainul O Prashongik Shilpabhabna”. Jahanara Abedin unveiled a Zainul Abedin bust, created by renowned Indian sculptor Tarak Garai. Besides, FFA authority arranged a Zainul Abedin Sculpture competition, where Suman Paul's bust of Zainul Abedin comes first. Jogen Chowdhury unveiled the bust at the festival. 

The Vice Chancellor inaugurated Zainul Mela where all the departments of FFA are showcasing and selling art pieces by the students and teachers. Several installations are placed beside the small pond of FFA. There are also several stalls by the local artisans who are displaying and selling their art and crafts products. Traditional dhol and folk artistes kept the Charukala premises vibrant and rhythmic with their pulsating beats and music.  

The opening day was also marked by a cultural programme, held at Bakultala, where artistes of Shanto-Mariam University of Creative Technology performed. 

This year also marks the 60th founding anniversary of Charukala Bhaban (building). World-renowned architect Muzharul Islam designed the unique building. In celebration of the occasion, a weeklong exhibition featuring various artworks by Bangladeshi artists and the original architectural designs by Muzharul Islam is now on display at Zainul Gallery-1 and 2. The exhibition was opened on December 25 to mark Muzharul Islam's 93rd birth anniversary.