As visitors entered EMK Center, Dhanmondi from November 9 till yesterday, they were greeted with inked artwork by the students of Fine Arts, University of Dhaka. Titled Inktober 2019, the exhibition featured works by 44 students of Charukola, all of which were created during the month of October.

Inktober, the tradition of creating inked art everyday throughout the month of October, was pioneered by American artist Jack Parker in 2009. The students of Charukola took on the Inktober challenge, creating 31 artworks during the month. These works were exhibited in  the Inktober  Showdown Charukola exhibition, held at the premises of the Faculty of Fine Arts from November 3 to November 5.

Following the exhibition at Charukola, four artworks of each artist were chosen for the exhibition at EMK Center, accumulating to 176 enchanting artworks encompassing the exhibition space. Apart from this, individual portfolios, containing all 31 artworks of each artist, were also maintained for art enthusiasts to delve in.

The exhibition was inaugurated by renowned cartoonist Ahsan Habib, Editor of monthly satirical magazine Unmad, Biswajit Goswami, Lecturer of the department of Drawing & Painting, Faculty of Fine Arts, University of Dhaka, artist Mong Mong Sho and Asif Uddin Ahmed, acting director of EMK Center.

Photo: Shanto Lawrence Costa

Bishwajit Goswami said, “Our talented and young artists rendered our culture well.” Ahsan Habib encouraged the artists to maintain storylines in their works so that in the future, they can be developed into comic strips and even graphic novels. “I would be happy to help in publishing these graphic novels or comics strips, which would add great value to the artists’ portfolios”, he said.

The artists of the exhibition shared how the challenge helped them polish and develop their skills, and echoed in agreement that this practice of inking must not cease. Young artists should be encouraged to take on the challenge.