JATRA

Artist Shameen Subrana began this journey in the mid-1980s, beginning with house-shows of young and established artists. Later, she opened a full-fledged gallery by converting her living room into a display area for the visual arts. Thus, Gallery Twenty One was born – the first of its kind that was owned and run by a woman. Subsequently, the gallery was able to relocate to its current premises because of the generosity of its owner, Simeen Hussain Rimi, MP, daughter of the country's first Prime Minister, Mr. Tajuddin Ahmed.This “Jatra” (The Journey) is not only that of Gallery Twenty One – it is a journey for all art-loving women and men of the country as well. Take for example the fact that this exhibition has brought together the works of forty women artists under one roof – an achievement by any standard. This number would have increased manifold if we had the space to accommodate them. This is proof, if proof was necessary, of the distance that women have travelled so far in Bangladesh in every field. It would be wrong to say that men did not participate in this journey. Without the support of our men-folk could we have come this far? So let this exhibition celebrate this great journey of art, women and men, and let us look to the future to a humane, civilized and peaceful society where women and men can equally flourish. This exhibition also honours our esteemed mentors - Professor Hashem Khan and Professor Rafiqun Nabi. They represent a generation of dedicated men who have trained and encouraged our young women and men in the fine arts, and made this journey possible. Zonta Club of Greater Dhaka is indeed privileged to be associated with this art exhibition. Maliha Chaudhury President Zonta Club of Greater Dhaka