International Art Exhibition opens tomorrow at Shilpakala Academy

Artopolitan, an art organisation promoting visual arts and artists of the world, together with Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy (BSA) is jointly organising a fortnight-long (February 23 - March 09) international art exhibition titled Celebrating Mother Language in the Light of Art at the National Art Gallery (Gallery No 2, 3 and Sculpture Gallery) of BSA, marking the International Mother Language Day 2019. The exhibition is in association with The Daily Star, Prothom Alo and Channel i.

Dedicated to the martyrs of 1952 Language Movement, the exhibition will feature diverse visual art by artists of 32 countries. The organisers will honour eminent Bangladeshi artist Murtaja Baseer, a Language Movement Veteran, with a Lifetime Achievement Award, including a cheque worth BDT one lakh, a crest and certificate for his lifelong contributions to art at the opening ceremony. 

An open call for artists worldwide took place, where they submitted 2200 artworks. The artwork selection committee selected 212 artworks for display, from where the jury committee nominated five of the best artworks to be awarded. The organisers will also confer a grand award worth BDT 50,000 and four honourable mention awards (each worth BDT 25,000) along with crest and certificates to the awardees.

Eminent educationist and National Professor Dr Anisuzzaman, Padma Bhushan, will inaugurate the grand art exhibition as chief guest. The opening ceremony will be held at the National Art Gallery Auditorium of BSA tomorrow at 5 pm. Mahfuz Anam, Editor and Publisher of The Daily Star and Tamanna Tahmina Tanji, Director, Asrotex Group, will grace the occasion as special guests, while internationally renowned artist Monirul Islam, also the Chairman of the Jury Committee of the exhibition, will attend the exhibition as honourable guest. Tanjila Sumaia Siddiqye, visual artist, convener and creative director of Artopolitan will deliver welcome address. Renowned thespian Liaquat Ali Lucky, also the Director General of Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy, will preside over the programme.

A befitting closing ceremony, showcasing an array of performing arts including music, dance, poetry recitation, mime and more, will take place at the National Art Gallery Auditorium, BSA at 5:30 pm on March 9.

Anis A Khan, eminent art connoisseur-collector and Managing Director and CEO of Mutual Trust Bank Limited, will grace the occasion chief guest while renowned architect and artist Mustapha Khalid Palash will attend the event as special guest. Liaquat Ali Lucky will preside over the programme.

After the inaugural ceremony, the exhibition will remain open to all from 11 am to 8 pm (Sunday - Thursday) and from 3 pm to 8 pm (Friday - Saturday) till March 9.

Eminent Cultural Personality Asaduzzaman Noor, MP is the chief adviser, while internationally famous artist Shahabuddin Ahmed and this year's Ekushey Padak winning artist Jamaluddin Ahmed, and thespian Liaquat Ali Lucky are the advisers of the exhibition organising committee. The other members of the award jury committee and artworks display committee included renowned artist Professor Mohammad Eunus, architect-artist Mustapha Khalid Palash, multi-award winning artist Harun Ar Rashid Tutul and renowned artist-curator Dr Malay Bala. Zahangir Alom, visual artist, journalist and chief curator of Artopolitan, will curate the exhibition.