Syed Shamsul Haque recited modern poetry at Daily Star-Bengal Arts Precinct, in the occasion of ‘Second Sight’, an exhibition of selected works by S. M. Sultan

On Tuesday, June 24^th at 6 p.m. Bengal Foundation, hosted an evening of poetry and music at Daily Star-Bengal Arts Precinct, the Bengal Foundation’s newest cultural venue. Poet and  litterateur Syed Shamsul Haque has conceived of and energetic and entertaining performance in which his recital was accompanied by a musician playing the esraj. This cultural event was part of the extended programming of ‘Second Sight’, an exhibition of selected paintings and drawings by S.M. Sultan from the private collection of Abul Khair.

This performance took place in the gallery itself, surrounded by significant artworks by S.M. Sultan.

Through the works in the exhibition, the exhibition catalogue and the full series of programmes designed around the exhibition, we hope to provide contemporary audiences with means to come closer to understanding the artist himself.

Syed Shamsul Haq writes poetry, fiction, plays – mostly in verse and essays. His literary works were included in the curriculum of school level, secondary, higher secondary and graduation level Bengali literature in Bangladesh. Syed Shamsul Haq received the prestigious ‘Bangla Academy Award’ at the age of 29. He was the youngest writer who achieved this honour. On May 1951, Fazle Lohahi published Syed Shamsul Haq’s first story ‘Udoyastu’ in his literary magazine, ‘Ogotta’. Haq got admitted in English department at University of Dhaka in 1954 and then he left university in 1956 without completing the degree. Later that year his first novel, ‘Deyaler Desh’ got published.

‘Second Sight’ had been arranged by Bengal Foundation to celebrate the opening of Daily Star-Bengal Arts Precinct, the Foundation’s fourth arts venue in Dhaka. The exhibition was perhaps the most significant exhibition of works by S. M. Sultan since the artist’s death in 1994. The exhibition was on view until July 13, 2014. The Arts Precinct remained closed on Sundays and shifted to different hours during the holy month of Ramadan.