An art exhibition titled Sholo Rong–Sixteen Shades of the Sixteenth Batch opened on Thursday afternoon at Gallery Chitrak in Dhanmondi, featuring works by 32 artists from the 16th batch of the Faculty of Fine Arts at the University of Dhaka.
The exhibition will remain open daily until 15 December.
Renowned artist and former teacher of the Faculty of Fine Arts, as well as chair of Art Bangla Foundation, Mohammad Eunus attended as chief guest.
Artist and writer Moinuddin Khaled and Gallery Chitrak executive director Md Muniruzzaman were present as special guests.
Sixteen Shades signifies a reunion of artistic journeys and a rediscovery of identity, said curator Rajib Ahmed at the opening ceremony.
He said the exhibition represents an inward journey for many who, despite long breaks, remained connected to art, adding that the title reflects the multidimensional perspectives, methods and emotional worlds of the batch.
Exhibitions must continue regardless of commercial outcomes, said special guest Md Muniruzzaman, who added that even if viewers do not understand a work immediately, appreciation often grows in time.
He said the show brings together 60 artworks from 32 artists and that exhibitions help audiences recognise artistic value.
A strong presence of women artists is an encouraging sign, said Moinuddin Khaled, noting that 21 of the 32 participants are women balancing creative practice with family responsibilities.
He said the artists chose simple yet powerful subjects over complex experimentation, which will connect well with the public.
The gathering of 32 artists after years and their ability to present a compelling exhibition demonstrate their shared identity as artists, said chief guest Mohammad Eunus.
He said artistic practice must continue irrespective of profession and expressed hope that each artist will organise a solo exhibition in future.
The show also pays tribute to their late friend Zulkarnain Ashzadi, who passed away in 2016.
Artists explore emotion, memory, nature, urban life and identity through drawing, painting, printmaking, sculpture, watercolour, ceramics and crafts, creating a multidimensional visual landscape.
Works by the following artists are on display: Rajib Ahmed, Nazmus Sakib, Md Riad Hossain, Mehnaz Tabassum Ananna, Mohammad Ariful Islam (Arif), Arashatul Fatema Sultana, Happy Mondal, Sabrina Farah, Kamrun Nahar Moyna, Nafia Tabassum, Kohinoor Akter Mira, Tanjima Tabassum Easha (Labonno Easha), Upoma Das Trina, Sheikh Farhana Parveen Tumpa, Zahida Huq Chaiti, Aklima Iqbal, Sharmi Dasgupta, Soma Surovi Jannat, Anjumanara Sonia, Fahema Ahmed, Chanchal Kumar Biswas, Nazmun Nahar Akanda, Nahida Nisha, Shafiqul Islam Rajraj, Kazi Abu Abid, Mehedi Hassan Mithun, Smita Das Tuli, Ishita Islam, Smriti Khandakar, Liton Paul Rony and Habib Rahman.
The exhibition is open to visitors daily from 11am to 8pm.
