An artwork by Zainul.

As part of a yearlong programme to celebrate Shilpacharya Zainul Abedin's birth centenary, Bengal Foundation has organised a special twelve day exhibition of artworks by the maestro and other members of his family, titled “Shilpacharya and his Outer World of Art” at Bengal Gallery of Fine Arts, Dhanmondi in the city. The exhibition was inaugurated yesterday.
Professor Emeritus Anisuzzaman inaugurated the exhibition as chief guest. Begum Jahanara Abedin (widow of Zainul Abedin), senior artists Mustafa Monwar and Mizanur Rahim were present as special guests.
Participating artists are Zainul Abedin, Shafiqul Amin, Zunabul Islam, Abdur Razzaque, Nazrul Islam, Mizanur Rahim, Mainul Abedin, Afzalur Rahim, Samina Nafies, Arif Ahmed Tanu, Masud Mizan and Manize Abedin.
At the exhibition, Zainul's seventeen artworks are on display at the exhibition. The medium includes brush and ink, watercolour, wash on paper, acrylic, pen and ink. His several periods of artworks are on display at the exposition. The maestro spent his childhood in remote area of Mymensingh and he took inspiration from lush greenery, riverine beauty of the Brahmaputra and its rustic surroundings. He went to Calcutta (now Kolkata) to study art in Calcutta Government Art School in 1933. During the period, he was famous for his superb watercolour technique and sharp line drawings. “Famine Sketch” recalls the famine days of 1943. The painter was mainly recognised for portraying this period of work.
About 56 artworks of the rest of artists of the exhibition are on display at the exhibition. The painters have worked in watercolour, acrylic, oil, etching, charcoal, pastel and mixed media.
The exhibition highlights famine, life of Santal, harvest, Bengali women in different perspectives, rustic scenic beauty and untainted riverine and pastoral life, the mystery of nature, portraits, folk traditions, landscape, hilly areas and others.
The styles can be categorised as realistic, semi-realistic, figurative and abstract expressionism.
The exhibition will continue till January 8.