‘Zainul Utshab 2020’ commences virtually

Today (December 29) marks the 106th birth anniversary of Shilpacharya Zainul Abedin, the pioneer of the art education movement in Bangladesh. Each year, the Faculty of Fine Art (FFA), University of Dhaka, arranges 'Zainul Utshab' to commemorate his birth anniversary.

Due to the ongoing global Covid-19 pandemic, the celebrations are arranged virtually this year. The FFA authority has been arranging the festival annually since 2009. The event, each year, features an exhibition of artworks by eminent artists, teachers and students of FFA, DU. As the regular academic activities are currently conducted online, unfortunately, this year the exhibition will not feature artworks by the students. The artworks in the virtual exhibition will feature the former and present faculty members, eminent artists at home and abroad.

Professor Dr Md Akhtaruzzaman, Vice Chancellor of DU, Professor Nisar Hossain, renowned artist and Dean of FFA, DU, and Mainul Abedin, youngest son of Shilpacharya Zainul Abedin, attended the virtual opening ceremony.

Artworks at the virtual exhibition.

As previous years, the authority of FFA, DU, conferred the Zainul Shommanona to eminent artists and art educators at the event. This year, Professor Syed Abul Barq Alvi, Honorary Professor, Department of Printmaking, Faculty of Fine Art, DU, and Japanese Professor Shiroki Toshiyuki, renowned artist and printmaker, received the Zainul Shommanona for their contributions.

"The Faculty of Fine Art was founded by the Shilpacharya and through his indomitable efforts to institutionalise fine arts, this department is now a leading establishment, not only in Bangladesh but also in the sub-continent," says Professor Dr Md Akhtaruzzaman, in his opening remarks. "Founding Bangladesh Folk Art & Craft Foundation, along with many other notable contributions, have immortalised Zainul Abedin."

"The physical celebrations we arrange each year will not be possible due to the pandemic this year," shares Professor Nisar Hossain. "Unfortunately, we had to postpone many segments, but we tried our best to arrange the celebrations virtually, this online exhibition is one of the firsts of its kind in Bangladesh."

The coronafine Group of FFA, DU, was founded by the FFA authority, along with faculty members and well-wishers in a tremendous effort of providing PPE to Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University and to 70 other different medical colleges and hospitals all across Bangladesh.

One of the sketches of Shilcharya Zainul Abedin, from the series famously known as "Famine Sketches", was donated to the coronafine group and the auctioned money was spent for the artisans and participants of 'Zainul Mela'.

Local artisans across the country come together for the 'Zainul Mela' every year to sell their handmade crafts at the fair. The coronafine group will provide financial assistance to the underprivileged artisans this year, to help them through the pandemic crisis.