<i>Painting exhibition a launch pad for Chittagong artists</i>
“Chhabir Haat”, a painting exhibition to be organised as part of “The Daily Star Odommo Chattagram” festival, will help showcase Chittagong-based artists and their creations alongside the influence the region has on this form of culture, said artists yesterday. The exhibition, to be held at the Institute of Fine Arts, Chittagong University from March 30 to April 5, will make people aware of the art trends and the blend of natural features of the port city which inspire this art form, they said. Chittagong's landscape created a unique breed of gifted artists and led to the founding of Chittagong Art College by artist Rashid Chowdhury in 1973, they added. The college has now become an institute. The Daily Star got in touch with several teachers of the CU Institute of Fine Arts who shed light into what captivates and creates the mindset of Chittagong artists and the positives of the exhibition. “Everything of Chittagong subconsciously attracts all artists because the combination of natural beauty in one single place is rare in Bangladesh. I am attracted to the hills and always try to present their grandeur in my works. “As a subject, it is the best place for both students and artists to be,” said Aloptogin Tushar, associate professor at the painting department. Expressing his happiness at the initiative to hold the exhibition, he said, “I believe the individual characteristics of Chittagong and its artists will get nationwide exposure through it.” Prof Alak Roy of the sculpture department blamed “a selfish segment of society” for barring Chittagong's qualities, beauty and elements from flourishing. “Some selfish people are busy cutting hills and greens to develop housing projects, ignoring our heritage,” he said. Roy said the age-old trees and hills should be preserved alongside Chittagong's history and heritage. “I derive my inner power from nature. Green is not only a color to me. It is like life, which I try to depict in all my works.” Thanking The Daily Star, he said, “It (the exhibition) is better late than never. The people of Chittagong should wake up.” Prof Monsur Ul Karim of the painting department, however, lamented the absence of an art market in Chittagong. “There is no market here. Artists do not get the value and respect they deserve. All talented artists are forced to look forward to the art markets in the capital. I hope the exhibition will help create a market here,” he said. On the art form, he said, “The quality of work of the artists in Chittagong is different from that of others in the country because an individual's geographical location becomes visible through that person's creations.” Kajol Dev Nath, a lecturer of the sculpture department, said in spite of being in a “conservative region”, sculptors in Chittagong achieved a lot of successes. “I will join the exhibition which will hopefully be a milestone in branding the city,” he said. Prof Abul Monsur of the institute said, “The best side of Chittagong is its wide array of destinations, food, language and trade which never ceases to inspire creative work.”
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