Ganges Art Gallery, Kolkata in association Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy and Bangladesh Cultural Ministry is hosting a month long solo exhibition featuring artworks by world renowned Bangladeshi artist Shahabuddin Ahmed in Dhaka from March 19.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is scheduled to inaugurate the exhibition titled “Shanti” (peace) at 4:30pm on Monday at the National Art Gallery Auditorium of Shilpakala Academy.
The artist who was also a freedom fighter during the liberation war in 1971 announced these at a press conference at Shilpakala Academy conference hall on Sunday afternoon. Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy Director General Liaquat Ali Lucky, Ganges Art Gallery Director Smita Bajoria, ex-lawmaker Abdul Mannan, Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy Secretary Jahangir Hossain Chowdhury, its Director of Fine Arts Ashraful Alam Poplu and Director of United News of Bangladesh (UNB) Nahar Khan were also present at the pre-event press briefing held on Sunday at the Shilpakala Academy.
“This exhibition of mine was previously held at Kolkata back in 2015 and was inaugurated by Pranab Mukherjee who was the president of India back then,” the artist said at the press conference.
He also said: “Hopefully this exhibition co-organised by Bangladesh and India will strengthen the cultural bond between the two countries and hopefully in these times of chaos in the whole world, my exhibition which is titled ‘Shanti’ or peace will motivate peace among all.” He further explained: “the exhibition is titled “Shanti” because the world now is in need of peace. There is no 100 per cent security in the world and there is no other way to ensure security except showing love.”
He also added: “There is no politics in my paintings. I have seen Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, I have participated in the Liberation War of 1971. And I have painted Bangabandhu as I have seen him”.
Ashraful Alam Poplu said: “We get to know about many truths about our Liberation War through the artworks of Shahabuddin.”
“The artist has not only fought for the country during the war but also represented Bangladesh before the world,” he added.
Smita Bajorai said: “there is no boundary for artists, they belong to the world, not to any specific country.”
Moreover, Shahabuddin Ahmed received the Independence Award in 2000 in Bangladesh and the Chevalier de l'ordre des Arts et des Lettres, the highest civilian honour by the French government, and many other international awards and recognition for his outstanding contributions to the nation’s cultural clique. He was introduced to the art connoisseurs of India by Smita Bajoria, director of Ganges Art Gallery, a notable art collector and a successful businesswoman.
Sunday, March 16, 2025
