Nasir Ali Mamun’s ‘Shotoborshe Sultan’ Photography Exhibition to honour SM Sultan’s centenary

A captivating photography exhibition, ‘Shotoborshe Sultan,’ is set to open on Friday evening at Bengal Shilpalay in Dhanmondi to commemorate the 100th birth anniversary of renowned Bangladeshi artist SM Sultan. 

Organised by Bengal Foundation in partnership with HSBC Bangladesh, the event promises a unique and intimate exploration of Sultan’s life through the lens of celebrated photographer Nasir Ali Mamun, often called the ‘Poet with the Camera.’

‘Shotoborshe Sultan’ will be open daily from 4 to 8 pm (except Sundays) until September 27 at Bengal Shilpalay, House 42, Road 27, Dhanmondi. 

The opening ceremony will feature distinguished artist Monirul Islam and Matiur Rahman, Editor of The Daily Prothom Alo, as Guests of Honour, with Md Mahbub ur Rahman, CEO of HSBC Bangladesh, also in attendance.

The exhibition will display rare portraits of SM Sultan, alongside exclusive items from Mamun’s personal collection, including original negatives, handwritten letters, diary entries, drawings, and other memorabilia. 

Many of these artifacts, such as three of Sultan’s teeth and unpublished sketches, will be shown publicly for the first time, offering a vivid glimpse into the life of one of Bangladesh’s most visionary artists.

Marking Mamun’s 65th solo exhibition, this event is a milestone in his illustrious career. 

“For the first time, my personal collection—including handwritten letters, diary pages with writings and drawings, unpublished sketches, original negatives, and even three of Sultan’s teeth—will be on public display. Alongside this, Bengal Foundation and HSBC Bangladesh are publishing a 160-page catalogue, Seeding the Soul, making this a truly significant exhibition,” said Mamun.