A 12-day solo oil painting exhibition titled ‘Muktijoddha O Naisargik Bangladesh’ (Liberation War and Scenic Beauty of Bangladesh) by painter Akhtar Mahmud Kajal has begun at the National Art Plaza of Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy (BSA) in Segun Bagicha of the capital.

The inaugural ceremony of the exhibition was held on Monday on the gallery premises, where International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) chief prosecutor advocate Golam Arif Tipu was present as chief guest. Presided over by BSA Director General Liaquat Ali Lucky, noted artist Samarjit Roy Chowdhury was present as special guest.

Through his canvas, artist Kajal depicted the circumstances of the Liberation War, tortures of the Pakistani army, speech of Bangabandhu, freedom fighters’ preparation for operations, the picturesque scenario of village and other things. A total of 102 oil paintings of Kajal is being put on display in the exhibition.

At the inaugural ceremony, Golam Arif Tipu said in his speech, “I know artist Kajal from his childhood. I found the evidence of his talent from that time. To many, (our) Liberation War is an emotion, while it is a sentiment to many. That very emotion and sentiment have been depicted through the stroke of Kajal’s brush on the canvases.”

About the exhibition, artist Kajal said, “I do not have any academic qualification in art. During the country’s Liberation War, I was a school going boy and I witnessed the torture of Pakistani army. On the other hand, I grew up in a village and I had to travel a lot around the country due to my father’s profession. So, I depicted all these things in my paintings.”

“Though I have been working on oil painting over the last 40 years, this is my first ever formal exhibition which showcasing my works,” he added.

The exhibition is open to all every day from 11am to 8pm and 3pm to 8pm on Friday until March 11.

National Art Plaza: BSA, Segun Bagicha l

Photo l jaki zaman