Artists in Barisal are selling paintings to raise funds for flood victims in various areas of the city.
One group of these artists was found on Hospital Road in Barisal city on Friday. When asked, they said that they are all students and artists from a fine arts institution called Charukala Barisal in the city.
They are selling paintings in different institutions and shops with the intent to contribute to the ongoing flood relief efforts. The money collected from selling the paintings will be sent to the Chief Adviser’s Fund for the flood victims.
The artist group is led by Tapas Karmakar, a prominent artist from the southern region.
He mentioned that 50 artists from the organization have contributed 50 paintings to help the flood victims, and they have already raised Tk25,000.
“Our initiative to sell paintings and raise funds for flood-affected people will continue for a few more days. Finally, we will hand over the entire amount to the Chief Adviser’s Relief Fund through the Deputy Commissioner,” Tapas Karmakar added.
Taifa, a third-grade student, said: “After seeing the flood scenes on TV, I drew a painting about the flood and how it affects the lives of the victims, using pastel colors.”
Nandini Das Prachi, a first-year student at the Faculty of Fine Arts, Dhaka University, who is also associated with the artist group, mentioned that everyone is eagerly responding to the artists' call to submit paintings.
“Artists are standing by the people in this time of need,” she said.
Artist Ishika Ghosh shared that she previously raised funds for flood relief in Sylhet, and the money collected from selling those paintings was also donated to the relief fund.
Dipankar Chakraborty, president of Charukala Barisal, said that artists must also participate in relief activities during such devastating floods.
“With this mindset, painters are working alongside everyone else. That’s why artists, from second grade to university level, have come forward to contribute. We want to promote the idea that everyone should support the helpless. The artists have eagerly embraced this effort,” he added.
“This is why we announced this program for flood victims, and we are receiving an overwhelming response,” the president of Charukala Barisal concluded.