PHOTO: COURTESY OF AFD

MAISHA TASNIM SRESHTHA

How does a nation remember its artists? “What Novera is doing now will take us a long time to understand,” said legendary artist Zainul Abedin, decades ago. On Thursday (February 27) evening, as audiences watched the stories of Novera Ahmed and Monirul Islam unfold on the screen at Alliance Française de Dhaka, the weight of those words became clear.

Directed by Anonna Ruma, the documentaries Novera , a 22-minute film, and Monir: Tale of Two Countries , a 3-minute trailer, capture the artistic legacies of Novera Ahmed, Bangladesh’s first modern sculptor, and Monirul Islam, a master printmaker whose innovative techniques have earned him international acclaim.

The screening was followed by an interactive discussion with notable attendees, including artist Monirul Islam himself and the Spanish Ambassador to Bangladesh, HE Gabriel Sistiaga.

When asked what led her to document the lives of these two legendary artists, the director shared, “To have known a person like Monir sir, his philosophy, artistic approach—it has always amazed me.”

She further explained that Novera Ahmed, Bangladesh’s first modern sculptor, spent much of her life in Paris, far away from the country she once sought to transform through art. As a result, her story remained largely unknown—her aspirations, struggles, and groundbreaking contributions in the 1950s and ‘60s fading into obscurity.

“I knew I had to bring her story to life,” Ruma said. “Her artistic vision extended beyond borders, and one of her most enduring contributions—the design elements she contributed to the Shaheed Minar—now stand not only in Bangladesh but also in Paris.”