Effort underway for the preservation of Bangladesh's contemporary artistic luminaries
In the heart of Dhaka, the Shilpakala Academy, the city's premier arts institute, has been occupied by the army since last year's "monsoon revolution." Soldiers are currently stationed in the galleries of the fine arts department, a stark contrast to the vibrant artworks that once adorned its walls.
The academy houses unique abstract works by Murtaja Baseer, huge but faint canvases by SM Sultan, and black-and-white ink sketches by Zainul Abedin, the country's foremost artist, born near Dhaka in 1914. Abedin's designs adorn Bangladeshi banknotes, but his work is on public display in just one room in Dhaka. His socially conscious work did not align well with the jingoistic, dynastic brand of nationalism of former prime minister Sheikh Hasina.
The occupation of the Shilpakala Academy is not just a base for cracking down on protests over jobs across Dhaka, but it also raises concerns about the preservation of these priceless artworks. Thousands of important works belonging to state collections have languished for decades in institutional storehouses, with some arts professionals fearing it might be too late to save some of these works, which have been stored for decades without air conditioning in the Dhaka humidity.
The current status of Bangladesh's cultural heritage preservation appears to be under significant strain and controversy. Last year, Sotheby's sold an ink work by Zainul Abedin for over £500,000, one of several works by the artist to have made six-figure sums in the last couple of years. Durjoy Rahman, a Bangladeshi collector, wonders if some of the artworks might be missing or completely damaged due to their storage conditions.
Recent events indicate that the interim government is allowing, or in some cases actively pursuing, the demolition or alteration of culturally and historically significant sites. For example, the ancestral home of Upendrakishore Ray Chowdhury—prominent in Bengal's cultural and artistic renaissance and grandfather of filmmaker Satyajit Ray—was demolished to make way for a new structure. This act has been condemned by cultural advocates and political figures in India and Bangladesh, who see it as erasing a part of the region's artistic heritage.
India has officially urged Bangladesh to halt such demolitions and expressed willingness to assist in restoring and preserving such historic properties, highlighting the importance of these sites as symbols of a shared cultural heritage between the two countries.
However, issues extend beyond individual buildings. There have been reports of broader threats to cultural heritage in Bangladesh, including attacks on Hindu temples and efforts by Islamist-influenced factions within the government to rename and sanitize traditional cultural festivals such as the ‘Mangal Shobhajatra’—a UNESCO-recognized event celebrated for its folk traditions and symbolism.
Amidst this turmoil, there is a glimmer of hope. Marina Tabassum, the appointed head of the governing body of the National Museum, is on a mission to overhaul Bangladesh's approach to cultural heritage. Tabassum plans to put the paintings from the government's art collection on permanent display, but proper curation is needed first. Manjari Sihare-Sutin, head of Indian and South Asian art at Sotheby's in New York, mentions significant market growth for Bangladeshi modern art, indicating a potential path towards preservation and recognition for these priceless works.
- The ongoing army occupation of the Shilpakala Academy, a home-and-garden for Bangladesh's prime artworks, raises concerns not only about the preservation of these priceless artworks but also the general-news issue of the future of the nation's cultural heritage preservation.
- Meanwhile, in the realm of politics, there is a glimmer of hope as Marina Tabassum, the head of the governing body of the National Museum, seeks to overhaul Bangladesh's approach to cultural heritage, potentially securing a path towards preservation and recognition for these priceless works that align with the lifestyle ideals many cherish.
