A three-day art exhibition titled ‘Art for Equality’ began at Dhaka University on Wednesday, featuring 90 artworks by teachers, students and renowned artists from nine public and private universities.
The exhibition was inaugurated by Vice-Chancellor Professor Dr Niaz Ahmed Khan at Zainul Gallery of Faculty of Fine Arts.
The event was organised by Department of Art History, with exhibition curator and department chairman Dr Shake Manir Uddin presiding.
The exhibition will run from January 21 to 23, open daily from 9:00 AM to 7:30 PM at Faculty of Fine Arts.
On Thursday (January 22), three day-long thematic seminars will be held with the participation of faculty members, students, artists and researchers.
Special guests at the inauguration included Joris van Bommel, Ambassador of Kingdom of Netherlands to Bangladesh; Shabnam Mustari, Additional Secretary of Ministry of Women and Children Affairs and Kabita Bose, Country Director of Plan International Bangladesh.
The exhibition is being held under the four-year project ‘Shomotay Tarunno – Youth for Equality’, jointly implemented by Plan International Bangladesh and JAAGO Foundation Trust, with financial support from the Embassy of Kingdom of Netherlands.
Of the 90 artworks on display, 53 were submitted for competitive selection, while 37 non-competitive works by renowned artists are also being exhibited.
The exhibition features contributions from nine institutions: Dhaka University, Jagannath University, Jahangirnagar University, Khulna University, Rajshahi University, Shanto-Mariam University of Creative Technology, Dhaka Art College, Narayanganj Fine Arts Institute and S M Sultan Art College, Jashore.
In his remarks, the DU Vice-Chancellor said initiatives that bring together multiple universities are highly commendable. He added that the presence of the Ambassador of the Kingdom of the Netherlands reflected a stronger and broader partnership.
Ambassador van Bommel highlighted three key forces—the power of equality, the power of youth and the power of art—saying these forces can carry messages of equality and justice directly to people’s hearts.
He added that the government of the Netherlands is proud to support the initiative.
Shabnam Mustari said the exhibited artworks reflect social realities and convey powerful messages.
She suggested engaging rural artists and children at the grassroots level and recommended that fine arts students work in rural areas through ministry programmes.
Crests were awarded to the artists of the top 10 artworks, with Nadia Yeasmin of Dhaka University securing first place. Certificates were presented to all participating artists.
The exhibition follows a two-day art workshop held on November 14 and 15 last year, which brought together 90 artists from the nine participating institutions.
NRE/SH
