Chittagong gets new arts complex, Bistaar”

Aiming at bringing a stable, qualitative change and basic up-scaling in the art and cultural arena of Chittagong city, a multipurpose cultural organsition titled “Bistaar: Chittagong Arts Complex” started its journey in the port city December 29.

On the day of birth centenary of the country's pioneer artiste Shilpacharya Zainul Abedin, the cultural complex was inaugurated at its premises in city's Mehedibag area in presence of eminent personalities, educationists, famed artistes, poets, journalists of the port city.

With a Tagore song by Shila Momen, the inaugural ceremony opened.  Later, poet Abul Momen inaugurated the arts complex as chief guest, with poet Ferdous Ara Alim as special guest. Theatre Institute, Chittagong (TIC) Director Ahmed Ikbal Haider, artistes Dhali Al Mamoon, Nazlee Laila Mansur, architect Bidhan Barua, famed photographer Shoeb Farooqui were also present at the programme.

On the occasion, the walls next to the stairs of the arts complex were decorated with the famous paintings on the Bengal famine of 1940s of Shipacharya.

To pay homage to Zainul, a joint painting exhibition titled “Shataborshe Guru Pronam” coordinated by the teacher of Fine Arts Institute of Chittagong University Zihan Karim, was also held at one of its exhibition rooms. Selected works of ten promising masters' students of the institute were also on display.

A discussion on life of Zainul was held, where art critic Prof Abul Mansur presented a slide presentation on Zainul works.

In another room, an international photography exhibition titled “Show us the World” opened. The exhibition highlighted the diversity, beauty and fragile nature of the globe before the viewers, taken by photographers of 15 countries.

Arts critic and cultural personality Alam Korshed, also director of the Arts Complex, told The Daily Star that the organisation wants to be a center to bring out hidden talent of the young artistes of the city.

“Regular discussions, chitchats, exhibitions on music, film, photography, dance and literature will be held here”, he added.

A three-day long South Asian Documentary festival at Theatre Institute, Chittagong (TIC) on January 8 will be organised, he informed.