| The City Gate |
| Video | dv | colour | 9'2'' | Bangladesh | 2009 |
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During the Mughal rule in Dhaka, Emperor Shahjahan's son Shah Shuja built two magnificent “Katras”. Boro Katra (1643-46) was planned to build Shuja's palace. The Bara Katra was adorned and embellished with all the appearances of the Mughal style. In the 18th century, Dhaka was hidden by Murshidabad under the Nawabs of Bengal. Handling by Robert Clive (1725-1774) on 23 June 1757, all territories seized by Nawabs were brought under the British East India Company. Kolkata's importance rose and Dhaka's population declined severely. The magnificent architectural buildings made by the Mughals were neglected and allowed to rot; they were abandoned and undervalued by East Pakistan, as well as the subsequent Bangladesh governments. Recently the conventional madrassa authority demolished parts of the building, which is a shame. Like the previous governments, the present Government still shows no concern about our heritage. This video intertwines these three different times and human values.
Mahbubur Rahman was born in 1969 in Dhaka, Bangladesh. He has been studying drawing and painting at the Institute of Fine Art, University of Dhaka. Rahman is an artist and an Honorary Coordinator of Britto Arts Trust which he founded. He has already have 12 solo shows and a number of group exhibitions in Bangladesh, India, Nepal, Bhutan, Myanmar, Indonesia, China, Japan, Korea, Thailand, U.S.A, U.K., Ireland, Germany, Finland, Denmark, Belgium, Canada and France. He has been artist in residence in U.K, Germany, Finland, Ireland, Indonesia, Korea, India, Nepal, and Denmark. He also organized workshops in several countries, such as Bangladesh, India, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Japan, U.K and China. He won several international grants and awards. His work is part of the prestigious collections : Fukuoka Art Museum, Japan. Devi Foundation, India. Bangladesh Embassy, Kathmandu, Nepal. Art Association of the county Administrative Board, Gothenburg, Sweden. Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy, Dhaka. Bengal Foundation, Bangladesh, Shilpasamannaya, Chittagong and many private collections at home and abroad.
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