To celebrate the birth centenary of legendary artist SM Sultan, Tanmatra Artist Group hosted a remarkable five-day exhibition titled 'Antardrishti' (Insight) at the Shala Neighborhood Art Space Gallery. The event, showcasing the works of 21 talented artists, concluded successfully recently, drawing significant admiration from art enthusiasts.
The exhibition, inaugurated on November 8 by eminent artist Biren Shome, paid tribute to SM Sultan, who was known for his extraordinary ability to breathe life into his paintings. The closing ceremony featured screenings of two documentaries on Sultan: ‘Adam Surat’ by the late filmmaker Tareque Masud and ‘Fossil’ by Ziaul Hoque Raju.
Visitors thronged the gallery every day, with the final day witnessing an overwhelming turnout. Many attendees expressed their admiration by capturing photographs of the artworks, creating cherished memories. The strong connection of the exhibition with SM Sultan's legacy heightened its appeal, drawing attention from across the city.
Bakaria Waliha Ajhra, a ninth-grade student from Rampura, visited the exhibition with her friend Roza Ahmed. Captivated by the artwork, Ajhra remarked, 'In this digital era, legendary artists like SM Sultan risk fading from memory. This exhibition has been truly inspiring, offering valuable insights into our cultural roots.'
Similarly, Rupali Sarkar and Jadav Mirza brought their son Nayanbiren from Mirpur to experience the exhibition. They shared, 'With technological advancements, children risk losing touch with icons like Lalon, Hasan, Abbasuddin, Zainul, and SM Sultan. This initiative bridges the gap, connecting younger generations with their heritage. It’s a praiseworthy effort.'
The event also included a music session led by Probar Ripon, the lead vocalist of the band Sonar Bangla Circus, alongside guest artists
Aanon Siddiqua, Antu Das, and Aroni Chatterjee, who captivated the audience with their performances.
The exhibition displayed artworks created using acrylics, watercolors, mixed media, and sculptures. The participating artists included Preema Nazia Andaleeb, A H Dhali Tomal, Sultanul Islam, Sourav Chowdhury, Monjur Rashid, Aroni Chatterjee, Rubina Nargis, Mahfuza Beauty, Shihab Nurun Nabi, Nabaraj Roy, Sadia Khalid Reeti, Manashi Banik, Sabia Nasrin, Md Bazlur Rashid, Sujoy Saha, Shreshtha Saha, SM Mizanur Rahman, Tanha Zafreen, Anik Chanda, and Md Ziaul Hoque Raju and Kanti Das.
The exhibition not only celebrated the legendary artist’s contributions but also aimed to inspire future generations to connect with their cultural identity.
