Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy (BSA) organised a commemorative programme in memory of the country’s first modern sculptor Novera Ahmed on June 17 at the National Art Plaza auditorium of BSA, Segun Bagicha in the city. Cultural Affairs Minister Asaduzzaman Noor attended the discussion programme as the chief guest, while noted poet Hasnat Abdul Hai, art critic professor Nazrul Islam, sculptor Rabiul Hossain and professor Nisar Hossain, dean of the Faculty of Fine Arts of Dhaka University attended as discussants. The event was presided over by BSA Director General Liaquat Ali Lucky.
Novera Hossain, the key designer of the Central Shaheed Minar, was born in 1930. In 1955, she was awarded a Diploma in Design in the Modeling and Sculpture course from Camberwell College of Arts in London. At Camberwell, she studied under the British sculptor Jacob Epstein and Karel Vogel of Czechoslovakia. She studied European sculpture under the sculptor Venturino Venturi in Florence and later, in Vienna. She was influenced by many western modern sculptors including Henry Moore.
She was awarded with Ekushey Padak by the Government of Bangladesh in 1997. During 1956-1960, she had done about 100 sculptures in Dhaka. Out of her 100 sculptures, 33 sculptures are currently in Bangladesh National Museum.
Her first exhibition was held in University of Dhaka in 1960. Another exhibition of her works was held in Lahore in 1961. Her last exhibition was held in Paris in July 1973.
Novera Hossain passed away on May 6 this year at the age of 85 at her home in Chantemesle near Paris. At one stage of her career, she jointly worked with Hamidur Rahman and was credited with the key designer of the Central Shaheed Minar.
Besides the discussion programme, a documentary on Novera Ahmed’s life and works was screened in the programme. l