From stage to street, artistes and activists led a cultural revolt against brutality and censorship
Spardha’s acclaimed productions "Bismaykar Sabkichu" and "Tobu-o Jege Uthi"—the latter directed by Mohsina Akter—will return to the stage for one and three performances, respectively. This phase also includes four additional workshops and a public panel.
A rare Salvador Dali painting discovered during a routine house clearance in Cambridge is set to go under the hammer in October, with an estimated value of up to £30,000 ($40042.35) — despite being bought for just £150 ($200.29).
Recently, social media was flooded with her success story, as her work was selected as one of the top entries from over 7,000 submissions for London’s prestigious Drawing of the Year Awards. Her illustration was also featured in the Drawing of the Year 2025 book, earning her international recognition.
The Battery Dance Festival 2025 will feature performances from eight international dance companies alongside eight New York-based groups, celebrating the universal language of dance through live performances, workshops, and immersive experiences for all ages. The free, outdoor event is known for bringing together diverse cultures and artistic expressions in the heart of New York City.
The last week of July brought an artistic distraction in the wake of a national tragedy. Seeking a brief moment of emotional respite, I visited Safiuddin Shilpalay on July 26, 2025, as it inaugurated “Carving the Self: Id | Ego | Superego”—the first solo art exhibition of emerging artist Abu Al Naeem. The ceremony was attended by noted professors from the Faculty of Fine Art, University of Dhaka, including Prof Syed Abul Barq Alvi, Prof Dr Azharul Islam Sheikh, Prof Anisuzzaman Anis, and Associate Prof Md Nazir Hossain Khan. Artist and founder of Safiuddin Shilpalay, Ahmed Nazir, was also present.
Set in a society marked by consumerism and apathy, the play follows Shubhonkar—a seemingly ordinary man—who becomes entangled in the turbulence of social upheaval. While others burn for the cause, Shubhonkar simply wants to hold hands, to connect, to not be forgotten. Yet, the system swallows him whole.
The play unfolds through a series of fragmented scenes that examine authoritarian violence, collective trauma, and human resistance. Rather than following a linear plot, “Mukhomukhi” weaves together anti-war sentiments and political memory, echoing the spirit of last year’s July movement.
Being a cartoonist is Morshed Mishu’s preferred public identity, or as he describes himself, an “artivist”—someone who practices activism through art in a non-traditional manner. Mishu, who rose to prominence through his political cartoons and social activism, has journeyed to every corner of the country to aid his fellow countrymen.
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.
Kazi Anirban, the grandson of National Poet Kazi Nazrul Islam, passed away on Wednesday (October 3) in Switzerland due to a heart attack. He was the eldest son of Kazi Aniruddha, the rebel poet’s youngest child.
The six stories—"Swajati," "Dhusor," "Lukochuri," "Somoy," "Porichoy," and "Nirbhor"—were written by Tahnina Islam and directed by three prominent theatre directors, Azad Abul Kalam, Tropa Majumdar, and Pantha Shahriar.
The 30th edition of the prestigious “Kyoiku Bi Hon Ten” art exhibition, organised by the Shinkyuoku Art Association, opened on September 28, welcoming art enthusiasts from around the world.
The exhibition titled “Embracing Inharmonious”, featuring the works of artists Masuda Khatun Jui and Jafrin Gulshan, was inaugurated at Kala Kendra on September 27.
With their thought-provoking and experimental production “Praay Tin/Chaar Jon”, Prochondo Collective offers a stark portrayal of the harsh realities faced by ordinary people under authoritarian regimes. The play examines how lives are lived and disrupted by the constant threat of extrajudicial killings, arbitrary detentions, state-enforced brutality, and the overall subjugation of the human spirit, which is surveilled and extinguished at will.
Inspired by Shakespeare’s “King Lear”, “Aro Ekta Lear” is set to premiere in November, and Dutt believes it’s the perfect piece to bring his theatrical career full circle. “When I perform this play in November, I will be 71 years old,” Dutt said in an interview with an Indian newspaper. “I don’t see myself just as a director. I act in the plays I direct. At my age, the physical demands of theatre are becoming too much, so I thought it was time to make this decision.”
At the "Modern & Contemporary South Asian Art" auction, organised by Sotheby’s in New York on Thursday (September 26), Abedin’s painting "Untitled" was sold for US $692,048, or approximately Tk 8.27 crore. This marks the highest price ever paid for a Bangladeshi artwork at auction.
The essence of the events Bangladesh witnessed during the student-led mass uprising in July and August, which escalated into a bloodied revolution, ultimately toppling the regime of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and giving rise to what we now call a new Bangladesh, is truly inexplicable.
