A calendar with a view

A detailed pencil sketch depicting the tribal community, its transportation system and musicians

This year, one of the calendars, which might turn out to be a sparkling eye catcher, is the one brought out by Quasem Group. With the theme, 'Evolution of transportation system in Bangladesh' in mind, artist Sultanul Islam, sketched every means of transportation available in Bangladesh. What might strike one the most is the contrasting idea of the many different traditional musical instruments that he has sketched as well. Although the depiction of the musical instruments is not always harmonious with the backdrop yet the calendar is worth a view.

For instance, the calendar begins with a sketch of a palanquin and its bearers, carrying the young bride from one village to another. Right in front of the palanquin, a village baul is seen sitting and playing his ektara. There are also sketches of a Biman airlines taking off, while a lady and her assistant sing with their harmonium for a living, watching the aircraft fly off above them.

Intricate details, sketched to its perfection, have a viewer truly enthralled, for instance the designs of bullock-carts running on the country roads with a flutist enjoying a leisurely time with his flute under a Banyan tree will definitely please the viewer. The calendar goes onto give illustrations of trains, horse carts, ships, fishing boats, public busses, CNGs, rikshaws and both the black and yellow taxi cabs. Neither does the artist fail to illustrate further on the traditional instruments like a dotara, mondira, a traditional wedding band party with trumpets, shehnai, dhols, violin, dugdugi and many more.

This calendar has a different taste all together and surely gives off a refreshing taste to everyone.