ULAB takes part in ‘The Artist as Public Intellectual’ event

The event featured 31 scholars, artists, and media practitioners showcasing panel discussions, films, poetry, music, and visual arts

The University of Liberal Arts Bangladesh has organised an event called “The Artist as Public Intellectual” in collaboration with the Developing a Media Decolonisation Imaginary (DMDI) network and hosted by Bournemouth University in the UK and Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology in Ghana.

The event, funded by UKRI-HEIF, featured 31 scholars, artists, and media practitioners showcasing panel discussions, films, poetry, music, and visual arts, according to a press release from ULAB.

Bangladesh’s panel at the event featured three presentations “exploring the intersection of history, identity, and urban transformation through the lens of art and cinema”.

Prof Jude William Genilo, pro vice chancellor at ULAB, examined the role of Anwar Hossain’s iconic photographs of the Liberation War shaped national identity and collective memory. The presentation reflected on contemporary reinterpretations of his work, highlighting the interplay of history, politics, and art in Bangladesh’s evolving narrative.

Nandita Tabassum Khan, senior lecturer at ULAB, examined the tension between secularism and faith in Bangladesh through the lens of Tareque Masud's films “Clay Bird” and “Runway”, which depict the intersection of tradition, modernity, and religion. Her talk highlighted cinema's role in reflecting Bangladesh's identity struggles and fostering reconciliation amidst its cultural divides.

Lecturer Nibras Bin Sayed examined Bangladesh’s capital through two films – “Made in Bangladesh” and “Live from Dhaka”, delving into “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,” the statement from ULAB said.