Dhaka: The '24th Young Artist Fine Arts Exhibition 2025' is scheduled to commence tomorrow at the Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy. Cultural Affairs Adviser Mostofa Sarwar Farooki will inaugurate the event at 4 pm, and the exhibition will be open to the public from 11 am to 8 pm daily until its conclusion. The 12-day event will take place across galleries 2, 3, 4, 6, and 7 of the National Art Gallery.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, the announcement was made during a press conference held at the Shilpakala Academy. The press conference highlighted that the 'Nabin Shilpi Charukala Exhibition' is a significant national event in the fine arts sector of Bangladesh, having started its journey in 1975. Over the years, many artists have gained recognition through this platform, earning accolades both nationally and internationally.
The inaugural ceremony will feature Artist Professor Dr. Abdus Sattar and Professor Mostafizul Haque as special guests. Poet and cultural figure Sheikh Rezauddin Ahmed, also known as Rezauddin Stalin, who serves as the Director General of Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy, will preside over the event. Shilpakala Academy Secretary Mohammad Zakir Hossain, Fine Arts Department Director Abdul Halim Chanchal, and other officials were present at the press conference.
The first Young Artist Fine Arts Exhibition included the presence of notable artists such as Zainul Abedin and Patua Kamrul Hasan. This year, a total of 1,393 artworks were submitted by young talents aged between 21 and 35. From this impressive collection, the selection committee chose 215 artworks by 191 artists to showcase at the exhibition, encompassing a variety of mediums like painting, sculpture, oriental art, crafts, pottery, photography, installation art, and performance art.
The selection committee included esteemed members like artist Professor Naima Haque from Dhaka University, artist Tarun Ghosh, artist Dr. Mohammad Ali from Rajshahi University, artist Ajmir Hossain, and artist Asmita Alam Shammi from Dhaka University. For the first time, the exhibition will feature specially curated art presentations along with 'Rupantor' (Transformation), a curated presentation by 12 invited young artists.
Eight universities, including those from Dhaka, Rajshahi, Chattogram, Jahangirnagar, Khulna, Jagannath, National Poet Kazi Nazrul Islam University, Shanto-Mariam University of Creative Technology, and Bulbul Academy of Fine Arts (BAFA), have presented their curated shows as part of the exhibition.
Ten artworks will be nominated for awards, with the top prize, the 'Nabin Shilpi Charukla Puraskar 2025', offering Taka two lakh and a gold-coated medal. The second prize is Taka 1.50 lakh, and the third prize is Taka one lakh. Additionally, seven honorary awards, each worth Taka 75,000, will be presented. Although the rules stipulate five honorary awards, two additional awards have been introduced based on the judges' recommendations and the Director General's consent.
The Judicial Committee, presided over by Professor Mostafizul Haque, includes members such as artist Reza Asad Al Huda Anupam, Anisuzzaman Sohel, Yasmin Jahan Nupur, and artist Imam Hossain Sumon from Jagannath University. The press conference also revealed that this is the first time Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy is offering international standard curated presentations.
The exhibition is curated by Manjur Ahmed, with the assistance of three other assistant curators.