Dhaka: A three-day printmaking workshop titled ‘Impressions of Rokeya-2’, led by distinguished artist Rokeya Sultana, commenced on Friday at Cosmos-Atelier71 located in Cosmos Centre in the city. The event marks another significant contribution by the artist to the field of printmaking.
According to United News of Bangladesh, the workshop was inaugurated in the presence of notable figures including Rokeya Sultana, who is a Professor of the Department of Printmaking at the University of Dhaka and an Ekushey Padak awardee for her contribution to painting in 2025. Also present were Tehmina Enayet, Director of COSMOS-Atelier71, Nahar Khan, Executive Editor of United News of Bangladesh, along with several artists, students, and art enthusiasts.
During her speech, Tehmina Enayet emphasized Sultana’s long-standing association with COSMOS-Atelier71 as both an artist and a mentor. She mentioned that the workshop was organized swiftly following Sultana’s return from abroad, due to the enthusiastic response from potential participants.
Rokeya Sultana expressed her gratitude to the organizers and attendees, explaining that the workshop is particularly aimed at individuals outside of the formal printmaking discipline, to introduce them to the creative potential of the medium. She described printmaking as a ‘search of the mind,’ emphasizing the process’s allowance for freedom of expression and experimentation.
Throughout the workshop, Sultana introduced participants to the collagraph process, a versatile printmaking technique that involves creating textured printing plates by attaching various materials like paper, fabric, leaves, sand, string, and cardboard onto a rigid base. This technique allows for the creation of richly textured and expressive images through both relief and intaglio printing methods.
Rokeya Sultana holds a prominent place in Bangladesh’s contemporary art scene. A former chairperson of the Department of Printmaking at the University of Dhaka, she has showcased her works extensively both domestically and internationally. She earned her Bachelor of Fine Arts from the University of Dhaka and her Master of Fine Arts from Visva-Bharati University in Shantiniketan, India. Her work is renowned for its strong narratives, exploration, and abstract compositions.
Special feature artists at the workshop include Biren Shome, Anisuzzaman Anis, and Bishwajit Goswami, while the participating artists are Anukul Chandra Mojumder, Sheikh Mohammad Rokonuzzaman (Shohag Parvez), Rashed Kamal Russell, Rania Alam, Kamruzzoha Juton Chandra Roy, Towfique Emon, Sadia Mizan, and Puja Basak. The workshop is set to continue until Sunday.