Novera no more

Renowned sculptor Novera Ahmed, the pioneer of modern sculpture of Bangladesh, died at a hospital in Paris on Wednesday. She was 76.

Novera, who was residing in France for almost 45 years, lapsed into a coma on 4 May from which she never woke up, and died somewhere between 3:00-4:00pm on Wednesday, said Ana Islam, Paris-based Bangladeshi art critique and a close friend of Novera Ahmed.

She will be buried at her husband Grégoire de Brounhs’s family graveyard on 11 May.

Novera was born on 29 March, 1939 in Kolkata. She studied in Kolkata and Comilla, and was awarded a Diploma in Design in the Modeling and Sculpture course from Camberwell School of Art in London in 1955. 

After returning to Dhaka in 1956, Novera collaborated with Hamidur Rahman and was credited with the original design of the Central Shaheed Minar. However, her name was later omitted from the official government documents for unknown reasons.

Her first exhibition titled 'Inner Gaze' on 7 August of 1960 was the first sculpture exhibition in Pakistan. Of the 75 sculptures exhibited in that show, 30 were collected and preserved by the National Museum. Some of her sculptures can still be seen at the entrance of the National Museum.

Her second exhibition was in Bangkok, where she focused on metal motifs. In 2014, a 100-day exhibition of her works took place in Paris.

This pioneer of modern sculpture left the country 45 years ago and never returned.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina expressed deep shock at the death of the eminent sculptor.
In a condolence message, Sheikh Hasina said Novera’s death is a great loss to the whole nation.
The prime minister prayed for the eternal peace of the departed soul and expressed her sympathy to the bereaved family members.