ULAB hosts 'The Artist as Public Intellectual' event
The 2-day UKRI-HEIF-funded event, The Artist as Public Intellectual, was organized by the Developing a Media Decolonisation Imaginary (DMDI) network and hosted by Bournemouth University (UK), Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (Ghana), and partners including ULAB. It featured 31 scholars, artists, and media practitioners showcasing panel discussions, films, poetry, music, and visual arts.
The Bangladesh panel at the UKRI-HEIF-funded event featured three compelling presentations exploring the intersection of history, identity, and urban transformation through the lens of art and cinema.
The presentation of Prof. Jude William Genilo, Pro Vice Chancellor, ULAB, explored Anwar Hossain's iconic photographs of Bangladesh's Liberation War, examining their role in shaping national identity and collective memory. It also reflected on contemporary reinterpretations of his work, highlighting the interplay of history, politics, and art in Bangladesh's evolving narrative.
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Nandita Tabassum Khan, Sr. Lecturer, ULAB, examined the tension between secularism and faith in Bangladesh, exploring how Tareque Masud's films, Clay Bird and Runway, depict the intersection of tradition, modernity, and religion. It highlighted cinema's role in reflecting Bangladesh's identity struggles and fostering reconciliation amidst its cultural divides.
Lastly, Nibras Bin Sayed, Lecturer, ULAB, examined Dhaka through the lens of two notable films, Made in Bangladesh and Live from Dhaka, where he explored the city's struggles and resilience, reflecting on its history, inequalities, and potential for transformation to envision a path toward a more equitable future.
These discussions underscore the transformative role of art in shaping Bangladesh's cultural and historical discourse while charting a hopeful path forward.
