The New Nation - Internet Edition

Sheikh Arif Bulbon

In the art arena, artists work with various mediums including watercolour, oil painting and mixed media. Their works touch the heart of the art lovers, critics and viewers. Sometimes their art works cheered the eyes of the viewers. A feminine vision including the expression of the sorrows and pains is clearly indicated by the forms and lines of an artist. Ranging from realism to expressionism and cubism, the paintings reflect the adroitness and persistence.

Promoting the freelance female artists in the country, Purbita, a non-political organisation, organised a weeklong art exhibition at the National Art Gallery of Shilpakala Academy in the capital.

Eminent artist Hashem Khan inaugurated the exhibition jointly organised by Purbita and Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy.

Director General of Shilpakala Academy Kamrul Hasan chaired the inaugural ceremony, while Director of Fine Arts Department of Shilpakala Academy Nazrul Hoque, Purbita's founding adviser artist Kazi Mozammel Hossain and General Secretary Fahmida Khatun, among others, were present on the occasion.

The exhibition featured 46 selected artworks of 16 artists. They were Hasina Begum, Fahima Chowdhury, Selina Rahman, Farhana Siddiqa, Nipa D' Cruz, Nilufar Jahan Khan, Fahmida Khatun, Ruba Yasmin, Shakila Haq Rini, Airina Nazib, Amena Chowdhury, Anar Koli, Ruhia Zabin Tina, Zakia Jesmin Juthi, Jhinu Nahid Kamal and Lamia Ahmed. The artists had been trained by Kazi Mozammal Hussain at YWCA.

Their paintings presented aesthetic beauty of both interior and exterior of their houses, localities and landscape of the country, featuring rivers, trees, forests, seas, birds, flowers and fruits.

Artist Hashem Khan said, "This exhibition is an example for our progress in Fine Arts. We are trying our best to enrich cultural norms and values. But many a time autocratic forces hindered us from reaching the goal."

Kazi Mozammel said, "Purbita is now 17 years old and this is the eighth exhibition. It always promotes and encourages non-professional woman artists of the country."

In the Fahmida Khatun's paintings in mixed media were fairly thought provoking. In the first image she brought in the depiction of the complex existence of the city life. In her work, she presented an enchained hand holding a burning cigarette with a matchbox and an ashtray in front. This was done in a cubistic fashion with light, feminine shades, contrasted by darker ones.

In her second piece titled 'Image of Life,' she showed a woman's portrait, which was done in two separate rectangular backgrounds. To the left was a large perched butterfly flecked with flamboyant colours.

Dr Nilufar Jahan Khan, a gynaecologist by profession, had the best entrees, even though they were realistic and might not cater to the present fury for the contemporary art.

In her oil work anybody found three employees who were working at a tee stall rolling out the dough and frying the comestibles. They worked in harmony on tables and the end of a big bin.

In her other works including presentation of roots of trees with a backdrop of the sky and the falling jade coloured leaves. The romanticised delineations of tree roots were currently very much in vogue in the urban area. Her last piece brought in three large boats with red tiles and labourers, which was found in Narayanganj. The portrayal of the brick kiln and the loaders on the boats had been done with an eye for details.

The work of Zakia Jesmin Juthi was also recommendable, as it brought in the depiction of a school, where many people had studied and which floods in nostalgic memories.

The works of Nipa D'Cruz showed two hands were doing the cat's crib game. An actual string had been superimposed on the painting. The game sometimes feels the often-suffocating existence of the urban women who feel suffocated by the male dominance.

The exhibition ended on October 31.

Photo: Sharif Khan

Bushra Rahman

Shomi Kaiser is an actress who belongs to almost everyone's favorite actress' list. She is very successful as an actress and model. She started acting in 1989. After that, she need not look back. Her skills and talent in acting helped her become a successful actress who touched the heart of our audience within a very short time. She proved her talent through playing all types of roles.

This has made her to become an icon to the new generation too. She even crossed the boundary of this country and performed abroad. Shomi acted in a documentary by Hritik Ghotok titled 'The Name of the River' and in a mega serial of Alpha Bangla, India.

Recently she has started her career as a producer through establishing the production house Dhanshiri where she is busy with making ads and preparing to make films in future.

Profile:

Name: Shomi Kaiser

Birthday: 15 January

First School: Udayan Girls' School

First Stage drama: Voot

First TV Drama: Kay Ba Apon Kay Ba Por

First Novel: Shareng Bow written by my father

First Love: I went to Russia when I was a schoolgirl. There I found a boy of my age. I gave him a picture of Bangladesh, which I draw.

Favorite Quote: Just do at whole heartedly without expecting in return.

Favorite ad: foreign: Alliance insurance and local: RC Cola, Meril Beauty Soap

Favorite Model: Nobel

Favourite jingle: Shona Jadu Moni Re, Ruchi Dal Vaja Khete Vari Moja

Favourite actor: Robert De Nero, Dangle Washington, Robert Redford, Aamir Khan, Razzak, Humayun Faridi, Abul Hayat

Favourite Actress: Goldie Hon, Julia Roberts, Merrill Strips, Smita Patel, Sreedevi, Kajal, Shubarna Mustafa, Bipasha Hayat, Tarin

Favourite dress: Saree, Jeans, T-shirt

Favourite Car: Mini Lexus

Favourite Singer: Manna Dey, Kishor Kumar, Syed Abdul Hadi, Runa Laila, Udit Narayan

Favourite Film: Breezes on Madison County, Angels, Sound of Music, Dilwale Dulhania ley Jayengi, Laam He, Jibon Theke Neya, Golapi Akhon Train A, Ashru Diye Lekha

Favourite Spots: Spain, Bali, India

The book you read several times: Rabindra Tagore's 'Galpaguchcha'

Favourite TV Channels: HBO, AXN, Discovery, Sony

Favourite poet: Shamsur Rahman, Nirmolendu Goon, Joy Goshshami

Favourite poem: Valobeshe Karponno Shikhini-Upekhkha/Nirmolendu Goon

Favourite Books: The Old Man and The Sea, Shonshoptok, Shai Shomoy, Solpo Guchcha, Purba Poshchim

Success is: Peoples admiration, love, respect and criticism from them.

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Recently audio giant G-Series released a series of albums on the occasion of Eid-Ul-Fitr. Among these albums, a compilation of mixed tracks from several underground bands was titled (appears to be branded) Underground-2. It was the consecutive second album of this kind, as clearly understood from the album title. G-Series celebrated the publication of the mixed album of these 16 different underground bands on 7 October 2007 at Coffee House. The participating bands are, Aurthohin, Nemesis, Vibe, Yaatri, Koprophillia, Stentorian, Kral, Metal Maze, Tomosh, Eclipse, Re-Dhun, Bishaurgo, Aloukik, Damnation, Satanic and Mechanix proprietor of G-Series, Nazmul Haque Bhuiyan (Khaled).

The first track titled 'Nirbodh' performed by Aurthohin, which is written & tuned by Aurthohin as well. The second track titled 'Joyoddhony' is presented by Nemesis, track threea, titled 'Otripto Praan' is performed by Vibe, written by Sabbir Hossain Turjo, and tuned by Shuddho Fuad Sadi. Track four, titled 'Chetona' performed by Yaatri, and track five titled 'Chhuti' performed by Koprophillia, the lyric is written & tuned by Kushol, composed by Koprophillia. Track six, titled 'Opomrittu' is performed by Stentorian, track seven, titled 'Klanto Bohumatrikota' is written by Adnan. Track eight, titled 'Prachir' is performed by Metal Maze, which is written by Faruk and tuned by Metal Maze. Track nine, titled 'Ditio Khondo' by Tomosh is written by Lizen and Spanky, and tuned by Tomosh. Track ten titled 'Ahoban' is performed by Eclipse and track eleven titled 'Mon Harano' is performed by Re-Dhun. Track twelve titled 'Dhumketu' is performed by Bishaurgo and track thirteen titled 'Asor' performed by Aloukik, is written by Tonmoy. Track fourteen titled 'Bimurto Karabaas' is performed by Damanation is written by Irfan Shafi. Track fifteen titled 'Du-Anon' is performed by Satanic which is written by Jem and track sixteen titled 'Joddha' is performed by Mechanix.

Those who are familiar with the trend of underground music will definitely like the album. This album is legally available at www.amadergaan.com.