30th death anniversary of Shilpacharya observed

Eminent artist Murtaja Baseer speaking at the programme. PHOTO: STAR

Acclaimed artist Murtaja Baseer was the chief guest while Begum Jahanara Zainul, wife of Zainul Abedin, was the special guest of the programme. Presided over by ABM Salahuddin, the director of Department of Fine Arts of BSA, veteran art critic Mainuddin Khaled was the other discussant.

Speakers focused on the contribution of Shilpacharaya to the development of fine arts in Bangladesh. According to them, he is yet to get his due.

Mainuddin Khaled said,"Though there has been a dynamic increase in the number of artists, exhibitions and sale of the art works, Shilpacharya Zainul's death or birth anniversary is not celebrated with zeal. In the digital era at least one documentary on Zainul Abedin could have been made to acquaint the younger generation with the artistic legend."

On the creativity of Zainul, Khaled said, "Zainul Abedin first introduced modernism in the paintings. He featured the common rural people, riverscape, the plight of the masses during the famine and more, using watercolour and inexpensive paper, but his art works are aesthetically rich."

Chief guest Murtaja Baseer said, "We expect to know more about the master artists such as Zainul Abedin and Quamrul Hassan from veteran teachers of the Fine Arts Institute in such programmes. I don't see any grand initiatives to honour the legend, which I think is the result of the current social turmoil." Subsequently Baseer illustrated the contribution of the Shilpacharya in creating artists.

In her speech, special guest Jahanara Abedin, said, " Some of Abedin's works are being pirated these days, which should be brought to public attention. Otherwise, the future generation will be totally misguided and consider those substandard works as Zainul's."

Chairperson ABM Salahuddin, said, "Next year BSA hopes to undertake a bigger initiative to honour Shilpacharya."

The absence of the director general and even the secretary of BSA at the discussion session raised some eyebrows.