The learning curve

Participating artists at the workshop.

Recently a seven-day woodcut art camp was held at Bornika Home Studio in Mohammadpur, Dhaka. The participating artists were Anukul Chandra Majumdar, Zahid Iqbal, Jamil Akbar Shameem, Tarikat Islam, Shohel Pranon, Farhana Ahmed Urmi, Shantona Shareen Nini and Shajal Das.
The prints were showcased at a five-day exhibition, held from July 15 to 20, at the venue of the workshop. A number of portfolios have been published from their artworks. Noted architect and art critic Shamsul Wares, architect Rabiul Hussain; artists Monirul Islam, Anisuzzaman, among others, spoke at the opening of the exhibition.
A number of printmakers have experimented with different themes. The objective of the workshop was to assemble artists belonging to different age groups, working in a particular medium but focusing on diverse subjects like nature, human relationships, social and cultural atmosphere.
Among the participating artists -- Majumdar, Shameem and Iqbal -- have established their personal styles, techniques and approaches.
Majumdar is the senior-most artist in the group. He said, “I think, concept is very important when creating something. I like to focus on relationships.”
Said Shohel Pranon, coordinator of the workshop, “Woodcut prints are technique-based and complicated. Our printmakers are now quite eager about this medium. At the workshop, we have learnt several methods and techniques.”