Aishwarya Raihan

Contributing writer for Arts & Entertainment.

‘Rong Jeno Moar Maurme Lage’: The artistic grandeur of ‘Graphics Manik Dey’  

Most of the artworks currently adorning the walls of Gallery Chitrak were created between 2016 and 2024. The exhibition features 70 pieces, including acrylic, oil, and watercolour paintings, etchings, drawings, charcoal works, and some of his iconic graphic designs for BTV. 

1w ago

‘Body and the Map’: Stories of chaos, trauma, and scars through art

Reaching the 3rd level of Bengal Shilpalay, the first art piece greeting me in the lift lobby with its unique appearance was "Ria Moni", a tower constructed with children's toys. Created by Afsana Sharmin, this sculpture is a memorial for the six-year-old Riya Gope, who was shot dead on her apartment's rooftop during the Student Against Discrimination (SAD) Movement, leaving her family devastated. An intimidating installation with bamboo, sharp objects, water lilies, and severed doll parts is her way of visualising the movement. 

2w ago

‘Brishti-te Roder Kona’: A tribute to Kazi Abdul Baset

The name of the late legendary artist Kazi Abdul Baset stands strong among the intellectuals who contributed significantly to Bangladesh's artistic and cultural progress even before independence. In tribute to the drawings and paintings he created from the ‘60s to the ‘90s, a solo exhibition titled “Brishti-te Roder Kona” is currently being hosted at Bengal Shilpalay. The Bengal Arts Program has curated the exhibition.

3w ago

‘Bengal Bliss and Harmony’: Fragments of Bengal in Texas

The everlasting beauty of Bengal and her women, the past relics, and the present elements are currently assembled at Lone Star College Art Gallery, City of Tomball, Texas — creating a window from the USA, across the Atlantic, to Bangladesh. Tasnuva Rahman, a Bangladeshi-American visual artist has adorned the walls of the gallery with her heritage, memoir, and artistry for her second solo exhibition titled “Bengal Bliss and Harmony”. The event, curated by Jill Brumer, chair of the Fine Arts Department at Lone Star College and associate professor of Drama, is currently taking place in Texas.

4w ago

‘Peace Through Arts’: An artist’s path to tranquility

A versatile artist, SAM Showket Hossain, competent in landscapes, still lives, abstract paintings, line art, and floral paintings — all of which radiate undeniable charms — uses colors and subjects fanning out the peaceful essence of a Friday morning. His skills have the ability to draw the attention of artists and non-artists alike.

1m ago

‘Echoes of Existence’: Ripon Saha’s intriguing world of art

Upon entering the gallery, the first drawing that intrigued me was that of a circle of infants with elongated heads. The artist through this drawing showed the immature extremism of people who blindly follow ideals without even questioning anything.

1m ago

‘Matir Manush’: Rasel Rana brings Bengal’s iconic tepa dolls to canvas

The exhibition title, “Matir Manush” (which means "people of the soil"), is a term used to describe humble, down-to-earth individuals. Fittingly, the tepa dolls often depict our people, birds, and animals.

2m ago

‘Embracing Inharmonious’: A dual dive into our society

Artists Masuda Khatun Jui and Jafrin Gulshan, who incorporate their passion and skills to touch the shores of surrealism, realism, and symbolism, forge intriguing art pieces that are not just for the eyes, but also for the depths of our minds. These paintings and installations— currently being hosted as a duet visual arts exhibition, titled “Embracing Inharmonious”, at Kala Kendra— delve into the women, lifestyles, thought processes, and political, social, and cultural aspects of our country.

2m ago
December 8, 2024
December 8, 2024

‘Rong Jeno Moar Maurme Lage’: The artistic grandeur of ‘Graphics Manik Dey’  

Most of the artworks currently adorning the walls of Gallery Chitrak were created between 2016 and 2024. The exhibition features 70 pieces, including acrylic, oil, and watercolour paintings, etchings, drawings, charcoal works, and some of his iconic graphic designs for BTV. 

November 26, 2024
November 26, 2024

‘Body and the Map’: Stories of chaos, trauma, and scars through art

Reaching the 3rd level of Bengal Shilpalay, the first art piece greeting me in the lift lobby with its unique appearance was "Ria Moni", a tower constructed with children's toys. Created by Afsana Sharmin, this sculpture is a memorial for the six-year-old Riya Gope, who was shot dead on her apartment's rooftop during the Student Against Discrimination (SAD) Movement, leaving her family devastated. An intimidating installation with bamboo, sharp objects, water lilies, and severed doll parts is her way of visualising the movement. 

November 21, 2024
November 21, 2024

‘Brishti-te Roder Kona’: A tribute to Kazi Abdul Baset

The name of the late legendary artist Kazi Abdul Baset stands strong among the intellectuals who contributed significantly to Bangladesh's artistic and cultural progress even before independence. In tribute to the drawings and paintings he created from the ‘60s to the ‘90s, a solo exhibition titled “Brishti-te Roder Kona” is currently being hosted at Bengal Shilpalay. The Bengal Arts Program has curated the exhibition.

November 18, 2024
November 18, 2024

‘Bengal Bliss and Harmony’: Fragments of Bengal in Texas

The everlasting beauty of Bengal and her women, the past relics, and the present elements are currently assembled at Lone Star College Art Gallery, City of Tomball, Texas — creating a window from the USA, across the Atlantic, to Bangladesh. Tasnuva Rahman, a Bangladeshi-American visual artist has adorned the walls of the gallery with her heritage, memoir, and artistry for her second solo exhibition titled “Bengal Bliss and Harmony”. The event, curated by Jill Brumer, chair of the Fine Arts Department at Lone Star College and associate professor of Drama, is currently taking place in Texas.

November 2, 2024
November 2, 2024

‘Peace Through Arts’: An artist’s path to tranquility

A versatile artist, SAM Showket Hossain, competent in landscapes, still lives, abstract paintings, line art, and floral paintings — all of which radiate undeniable charms — uses colors and subjects fanning out the peaceful essence of a Friday morning. His skills have the ability to draw the attention of artists and non-artists alike.

October 28, 2024
October 28, 2024

‘Echoes of Existence’: Ripon Saha’s intriguing world of art

Upon entering the gallery, the first drawing that intrigued me was that of a circle of infants with elongated heads. The artist through this drawing showed the immature extremism of people who blindly follow ideals without even questioning anything.

October 13, 2024
October 13, 2024

‘Matir Manush’: Rasel Rana brings Bengal’s iconic tepa dolls to canvas

The exhibition title, “Matir Manush” (which means "people of the soil"), is a term used to describe humble, down-to-earth individuals. Fittingly, the tepa dolls often depict our people, birds, and animals.

October 4, 2024
October 4, 2024

‘Embracing Inharmonious’: A dual dive into our society

Artists Masuda Khatun Jui and Jafrin Gulshan, who incorporate their passion and skills to touch the shores of surrealism, realism, and symbolism, forge intriguing art pieces that are not just for the eyes, but also for the depths of our minds. These paintings and installations— currently being hosted as a duet visual arts exhibition, titled “Embracing Inharmonious”, at Kala Kendra— delve into the women, lifestyles, thought processes, and political, social, and cultural aspects of our country.

September 1, 2024
September 1, 2024

‘Im/material’: A union of comfort and chaos

The finest characteristic of Amitab’s paintings is that they invoke emotions and create a chain of thoughts. His artworks speak of his commitment to proportions and balance. His imagination comes alive through the colours and textures of his canvases. Calm and chaos both exist in his works harmoniously. According to the curator, the artist orchestrates atemporal, and spatial configurations with deliberate and methodical approaches and they align with the aesthetics of the abstract. 

May 9, 2024
May 9, 2024

‘Primer to Press’: A history of Bengali culture, language, and books

Artist and researcher Sabyasachi Hazra, who graduated from the Faculty of Fine Arts at the University of Dhaka, has become popular amongst the young and up-and-coming artists of this country primarily due to his unique strokes and style.