Cosmos Atelier71 Printmaking Studio and Gallery Cosmos arranged a six-day (November 3-8) printmaking (etching/intaglio) workshop titled “Nature Quest” at Cosmos Centre, Malibagh in the capital. Renowned artist Rokeya Sultana, Professor at the Department of Printmaking, Faculty of Fine Art, University of Dhaka and Noted artist Uttam Kumar Bashak, Professor at the Visva-Bharati University of India conducted the workshop.

From all over Bangladesh, twelve noted and emerging artists -- Rashid Amin, Anisuzzaman Anis, Nagarbasi Barman, Ashraful Hossain, Sujit Sarker, Boni Adam, Palash Baran Bishwash, Farzana Rahman Boby, Sourav Chowdhury, Nadia Yeasmin, Juton Chandra Roy and SM Ehsan -- participated in the workshop. The studio also intends to publish a portfolio with selected artworks of every participant derived from the workshop. Eminent artists Samarjit Roy Chowdhury, Shahid Kabir, Biren Shome, Alakesh Ghosh, Cosmos Group Chairman Amanullah Khan, and Gallery Cosmos Director Tehmina Enayet were present at the inaugural ceremony of the workshop.

Cosmos Atelier'71 Studio, set up in 2009, has made a significant contribution towards printmaking medium more popular. As part of their vision to elevate art, the studio contains state-of-the-art facilities, which are exceptional in Bangladesh. It aims to break new grounds by acting as an incubator for the emergence of graphic art in Bangladesh. To that end, it focuses on the encouraging young printmakers to develop their craft before presenting them with pathways for a future in printmaking.

Etching/Intaglio is traditionally the process of using strong acid or mordant to cut into the unprotected parts of a metal surface to create a design in intaglio (incised) in the metal. As a method of printmaking, it is, along with engraving, the most important technique for old master prints, and remains in wide use today.

The outcomes of the workshop will be displayed at the exhibition titled “Nature Quest” by 14 artists at Gallery Cosmos, New DOHS, Mohakhali from 10 to 23 November.