Title: Letters of 71 – 4

Artist: Manzoor Elahi

Media: Acrylic on canvas

Size: 24X24 Inch

Year: 2019

Concept: Concept Note

In 1971, the Bengali people of Bangladesh, then known as East Pakistan, fought a historic Liberation War to establish an independent nation and to protect their language, cultural identity, and fundamental rights.

People from all walks of life joined the struggle, leaving behind their families, loved ones, and personal lives. During the war, freedom fighters and ordinary people communicated with their families through letters, expressing their emotions, fears, hopes, concerns, and sacrifices. These letters became intimate records of the human experience of the Liberation War.

This series of artworks draws inspiration from the letters written during that period. The works incorporate fragments of these personal writings, transforming their words, emotions, and memories into visual forms through colors, textures, composition, and abstraction.

By combining text and visual elements, the artworks explore the emotional depth of the Liberation War and the personal stories behind the larger history of Bangladesh. They serve as a tribute to the courage, sacrifice, separation, and enduring hope of those who lived through this defining moment in the nation’s history.

Exhibited at: The Al-Biruni Art Gallery (Galeri Al-Biruni). Organized by University technology Mara, Malaysia