Online Desk: The 12th Kibria Print Fair, currently ongoing at Kalakendra in Dhaka’s Lalmatia, is bringing together 19 printing studios and institutions from across the country to showcase their exquisite artworks.

Kibria Printmaking Studio has been organising the fair, also known as the ‘Kibria Mela’, since 2012 to pay tribute to the late eminent printmaker Mohammad Kibria. Since the first print fair, the Kibria Mela has worked towards promoting printmaking more accessible to artists and enthusiasts.

Typically held every year in the first week of February, this year’s fair which was Inaugurated on Friday, is displaying artworks created using different techniques such as woodcut, intaglio, lithography, etching and others.

Department of Printmaking, Faculty of Fine Arts, Dhaka University; Painting-Oriental-Printmaking Department, Faculty of Fine Arts, Rajshahi University; Printmaking Discipline, Fine Arts School, Khulna University; Department of Fine Arts, Jatiyo Kabi Kazi Nazrul Islam University, Trishal, Mymensingh; Department of Printmaking, Faculty of Fine Arts, Jagannath University; Department of Fine Arts, Islamic University Bangladesh, Kushtia; Printmaking Studio, Department of Fine Arts, UODA; Department of Fine Arts, Rabindra Maitree University, Kushtia; Bengal Arts Programme under the Bengal Foundation; Safiuddin Printmaking Studio; Shunno Art Space; Cosmos Atelier 71; Karkhana Art Space; Studio 48; Flame Arts Open Studio; Mazumder’s Print Land; Kaalnee Art Studio; Kibria Printmaking Studio; Kalakendra, Dhaka; and Govt. College of Art & Craft, Agartala, Tripura, India are participating in this year’s fair.

The inauguration ceremony on Friday was joined by several eminent artists including Syed Abul Barq Alvi, Shahid Kabir, Rashid Amin, DU FFA Dean Nisar Hossain and others.

Besides works by emerging printmakers, the fair is featuring artworks created by prominent artists, namely, Abul Barq Alvi, Rafiqun Nabi, Nisar Hossain, Shahid Kabir, Wakilur Rahman, Fareha Zeba, Shishir Bhattacharjee, Samarjit Roy Chowdhury, and others.

Cosmos Atelier 71, the art wing of Cosmos Foundation and one of the regular participants at the fair, is displaying over 40 artworks in this year’s edition.

The 12th Kibria Print Fair will remain open from 4 pm to 8 pm till February 10.