The New Nation - Internet Edition

Traditional Chinese painting at Bengal Gallery

Sheikh Arif Bulbon

Painting in the traditional style is now known in Chinese as 'Guo hua,' meaning 'national' or 'native painting,' in opposition to the western styles of art which became popular in China in the 20th century. Traditional painting involves essentially the same techniques as calligraphy and is done with a brush dipped in black or coloured ink - oils are not used. As with calligraphy, the most popular materials on which paintings are made of paper and silk. The finished work is then mounted on scrolls, which can be hung or rolled up. Traditional painting also is done in albums and on walls, lacquer work and other media.

There are mainly two techniques in Chinese painting, which are 'Meticulous' - Gong-bi often referred to as 'court-style' painting and 'Freehand' - Shui-mo loosely termed water colour or brush painting. The Chinese character 'mo' means ink and 'shui' means water. This style is also referred to as 'xie y' or freehand style.

Recently some studies of traditional Chinese paintings - watercolours of traditional Chinese paintings of lions and tigers at relax and action - were presented at the Bengal Gallery of Fine Arts in the capital. They have been created on paper and silk with ink and water. This was done freehand style and were all belong to the 'court-style' painting which also called 'Gong bi.'

All the painters were peasants of Henan Province's Wanggongzhuang village, middle of China. With their perfect paintings of tigers, several of them became very famous even around the world. Each year some of their pictures were sold into America, Japan, South Korea and Southeast Asia. The village has become the first important and famous tiger-painting place in China and all tiger paintings in the exhibition were drawn by them.

The eight-day exhibition by 10 artists was inaugurated on August 12 and concluded on August 19. Nobel peace prizewinner Dr Muhammad Yunus inaugurated the show as chief guest, while Chinese Ambassador Zheng Qingdian, Chief Adviser's Office Secretary Kazi M Aminul Islam, Cultural Affairs Secretary M Sharful Alam, Chairman of Bengal Group Abul Khayer Litu, Subir Chowdhury, Director of the gallery, among others, were present on the occasion.

A total of 50 works by Wang Jian feng, Wang Chun li, Wang Jian hui, Wang Jian jin, Wang Jian min, Wang Pei shuang, Wang Pei zhen, Zhao Qing ye, Xiao Yan qing and Wang Jian shu were taking place in the show.

Artists from the Han (202 BC) to the Tang (618-906) dynasties mainly painted the human figure. Much of what we early Chinese figure painting comes from burial sites, where paintings were preserved on silk banners, lacquered objects and tomb walls. Many early tomb paintings were meant to protect the dead or help their souls get to paradise. Others illustrated the teachings of the Chinese philosopher Confucius or showed scenes of daily life.

This was found in works of Wang Chun li's powerful meditation one finds a gorgeous tiger, carefully aiming and perhaps getting ready to jump for its prey. The tiger was seen on the banks of a stream, sheltered by trees and hills. Much of this painting of tigers comes from burial sites and tombs. These have inscriptions of messages to the soul's way to paradise. Writings of Confucius were also included where the daily life scenes were also included.

This exhibition will raise voice and create awareness to protect the tigers not only in Bangladesh and help all to know about the traditional Chinese paintings.

Int’l inter university photography exhibition ends

Art & Culture Report

The International Inter University Photography Exhibition was held at the National Art Gallery of Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy from August 3 to 9. It is one of the most anticipating events for all the amateur photographers.

It is set to become the international photography competition and exhibition and is designed to showcase the best photographic art of both professional and emerging artists around the world.

The North South University Photography Club (NSUPC) has been organizing the event annually since 2003, highlighting photographs taken by university and college students from home and abroad.

In the exhibition, 47 universities from 13 countries participated. The exhibition featured 502 photographs by 201 photographers. The competitive exhibition featured 35 awards in different categories. The entries were categorised according to two mediums - Colour and Black and White. Subcategories were Landscape, Portrait, Lifestyle, Architecture, Action, Still life and Nature. Apart from these, three awards were given in the 'Photo Story' category. A panel of judges including eminent photographers of Bangladesh selected the award winning works.

The participants represented 30 Bangladeshi universities including The North South University, Dhaka University, Jahangirnagar University, Rajshahi University, BUET, CUET, Shahjalal University of Science and Technology, Khulna University, East West University, AIUB, Stamford University and BRAC University and 17 foreign universities in Australia, Canada, Egypt, England, Germany, India, New Zealand, Pakistan, Scotland, South Africa and USA.

A number of photographs, displayed at the exhibition, portrayed human activities involving water, like fishing, boating, bathing in the river, and washing equipments on the riverside. Some of the photographs also highlighted the nature like raindrops on a leaf or rain over the river.

Easel Mortuza and Ismail Hossain Ferdous of East West University were the first prize-winning photographs in the Lifestyle in 'Black and White' and 'Colour' categories respectively.

Their photographs highlighted life in the water. The panoramic photograph by Easel featured a tranquil moment, where a boatman tried to plan his little boat, while Ferdous' aerial view captured the life in river areas.

The first prizes in Landscape category - colour and black and white respectively - went to Nadi Abrar Haque of the University of Ottawa, Canada and Md Farhad Rahman of Bangladesh College of Leather Technology.

Abrar took an aerial snap of seashore, while Farhad's photograph portrayed a rustic view.

Md Mubeenul Haq Khan of BRAC University won in the 'Portrait' category in black and white.

Zubin Faisal of University of Nottingham, England won in the same category in colour.

Avijit Nandy of Dhaka University received the first prize in 'Nature' in colour category.

Towfiq Hossain of North South University and Ashraful Awal Mishuk of Dhaka University received first prizes in 'Action' in black and white and colour respectively category.

A series of photographs taken by Sheikh Rajibul Islam of BUET, highlighting a circus troupe, received the 'Best Photo Story' award.

4 contemporary artists’ show

Art & Culture Report

Recently art exhibition of four contemporary Ja-panese and Bangla-deshi artists was held at the Zainul Gallery of the Institute of Fine Art of Dhaka University.

GS Kabir Arts and Graphics organised the show where artworks of five works of each of the four participating artists were presented at the weeklong exhibition.

Participant artists were Sanae Watanabe (Sanae Kabir) and Yuri Ikematsu from Japan and Shulekha Chaudhury and Yasmin Jahan Nupur from Ban-gladesh.

Both of the Japanese artists were impressionistic. Their works were done with visible brush strokes, open composition, emphasise on light in its changing qualities to portray the subject matter.

Artists Shulekha Chow-hury done huge experimentation on forms, compositions and themes. Featuring the contemporary social turmoil, the expressionist artist expressed her intense emotion.

Her works titled 'Power of Uniform' and 'Romance' represented her themes and thoughts. Each of her canvas was figurative, however, none of the figures had any 'eye.' She had created many eyes, which look at the figures.

Artist Nupur worked with feminism. She expressed her works with strong feeling of the feminine characters.

Faminism was expressed in her works strongly, which touched the hearts of the visitors.

This type of initiative was weel for the young artists of the country to exchange their works with other countries.