Feature

Artist's Statement

There was a report on GulshanH ossain's art exhibition at Jahangirnagar University in the Star Campus issue last week. It was not a complete report with some facts missing. We are happy to present here the artist's own statement about her art series on 1971. We have also given a brief introduction on her many achievements.

1971
"Over a long period I have developed my semi-abstract compositions as a way of exploring the varied facts of nature and history, as part of an ongoing meditation on the colour and light of my native land, Bangladesh. For this exhibition I have created a number of works that further explore my own memories, thoughts, and emotions in relation to the Liberation War Bangladesh (1971). In my family we lost close and dear family members in this war, in which approximately three million people were slaughtered. The Pakistani army along with local cohorts killed Bengali doctors, teachers, students and other intellectuals as a part of their 'intellectual cleansing' drive. I have personally been deeply affected by the war and I have tried here to depict my memories and emotions from those events rather than representing a real landscape.”

The artist
Gulshan Hossain's studies include Master of Arts in Political Science; University of Dhaka, Bangladesh1987; Bachelor of Fine Arts (Hons.) in Drawing and Painting; University of Development Alternative, Dhaka, Bangladesh 2006; and Master of Fine Arts (Drawing & Painting); Winchester School of Art, University of Southampton, UK 2007-08.

She has also won the following awards: National Award, ( Dipa Haq Award ) awarded by the National Academy of Fine & performing Arts of Bangladesh; Honourable Mention awarded by the Sharjah Ladies Club (by Her Highness Sheikha Jawer Al Qasimi); Achievement Award by University of Development Alternative, Dhaka; Second Prize in Abstract and Surrealism at the 28th International Miniature Art Competition, Florida, USA; Honourable Mention at the 26th International Miniature Art Competition, Florida, USA; and Distinction Short List at the 5th International Miniature Art Biennial, Quebec, Canada. She has participated in numerous exhibitions with other artists since 1994, not only in Bangladesh, but also in Australia, America, Canada, Egypt, Germany, Japan, Iran, Sri Lanka, Switzerland, the United Arab Emirates, and the United Kingdom.

---How Bushra Srabasti Hossain of Bangladesh International Tutorial (BIT) won top prize in an international essay writing competition

---How Bangladesh Team (DUDS) performed in the SAARC School Debate

---The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award programme at various educational institutes

and much more...