Artworks on display. Photo: Atl Aakash

The National Art Exhibition brings about a festive mood in the local art circuit. The exhibition is organised by Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy (BSA). This year's exhibition – the 20th installment – features displays of 280 artworks by 255 artists. At the National Art Gallery, BSA, 222 paintings, 39 prints, 40 sculptures, three tapestries and 15 installations are on display.

Initially, 548 artists submitted a total of 1260 artworks, out of which 280 were selected by a five-member board comprising AKM Qayyum, Dr. Farida Zaman, Sheikh Afzal Hossain, Lala Rukh Selim, Md Jasimuddin and Dr. Aminul Momenin Chowdhury for exhibition.The exhibition was inaugurated by Finance Minister Abul Maal Abdul Muhith on June 22. Veteran painter Samarjit Roy Chowdhury was present as special guest. Liaquat Ali Lucky, director general of Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy, presided over the programme. Anwar Hossain, director of Fine Arts Department, Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy delivered the welcome speech at the programme.

In his speech, AMA Muhith praised the organisers for arranging the exhibition. He said, “The exhibition plays an important role at the national level as artists get their prime recognition here.”

Five members of the jury committee are: Syed Jahangir, Samarjit Roy Chowdhury, Hashem Khan, Rafiqun Nabi and Rokeya Sultana.

Mohammad Mainuddin won the Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy Award at this year's National Art Exhibition. He got a crest, certificate and a cheque worth Taka 1 lac. Mohammad Hasan Morshed, Munjurul Lovy and Mohammad Hasanur Rahma won Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy Honourable Mention Awards. They each received a crest, certificate and a cheque worth Taka 25,000. Anisuzzaman Mamun won the Dipa Hoq Award, taking home a crest, certificate and a cheque worth Taka 20,000. Gulshan Hossain won the Bengal Foundation Award -- a crest, certificate and a cheque worth Taka 1 lac. Ruhul Karim Rumi won the Society for Promotion of Bangladesh Art (SPBA) Award. He got a crest, certificate and a cheque worth Taka 80,000. Zahida Akhter won the Begum Azizunnesa Fine Arts Award, and she received a crest, certificate and a cheque worth Taka 25,000. Rasel Kanti Das won the AB Bank Award. He got a crest, certificate and a cheque worth Taka 50,000.

Gulshan Hossain (R) receives the award from the Finance Minister.

Participation of painters who emerged in the mid and late '80s, and '90s is noticeable at the exhibition. The objective of this exhibition was to bring together artists belonging to different age groups, working in different mediums and techniques. The event has also become a platform, encouraging exchange of ideas between artists, critics and art enthusiasts.

The participants have expressed their feelings through watercolour, oil, mixed media, acrylic, tempera, graphics, installation, video art etc.

The works at the exhibition are justifiably expected to possess distinctively local characteristics in terms of forms, subjects and aesthetics. Artists' mode of expression varied--- realistic, semi-realistic, pure-abstraction, semi-abstraction, abstract expressionism, expressionism, impressionism and neo-
expressionism.

The exhibition will continue till July 12.