The gigantic venue is filled with all kinds of artworks from various artists. Each section of the venue has a different vibe to offer. There one can find every form of the arts, such as from visual arts drawings, paintings, photography, sculptures and conceptual artworks.Dhaka Art Summit: Where art comes to life
DL reporter
The fourth edition of Dhaka Art Summit (DAS) has opened its gates for the art lovers of the country on the premises of Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy (BSA) in the capital yesterday. Dhaka Art Summit is exhibiting approximately 300 artists from Bangladesh, Thailand, Malaysia, Madagascar, Philippines and several other countries this year.
As Dhaka Art Summit rejects the traditional biennale format to craft a more generative space for art, this years venue has been curated with the theme to create new connections between South Asia, South East Asia, and the Indian Ocean belt. The gigantic venue is filled with all kinds of artworks from various artists. Each section of the venue has a different vibe to offer. There one can find every form of the arts, such as from visual arts drawings, paintings, photography, sculptures and conceptual artworks.
There are also a number of performing arts included in the schedule and the opening performance of DAS, took place at the entrance of the venue, where Reetu Sattar brought her Harano Sur (Lost Tune) on stage. The performance with 30 musicians and 30 harmoniums enthralled the visitors and tried to encapsulate the time through the South Asian music everyone grew up with. In the venue, there is also a corner dedicated to world music.
Each corner of DAS is filled with unique and innovative artworks that become livelier with each glance. DAS is also hosting some conceptual live artworks that are being prominently showcased.
According to the organisers, on its fourth edition the summit has expanded itself as a true hub for art and architecture related to South Asia.
Dhaka Art Summit publicized the cultural event originated out of Bangladesh and it is ultimately putting Bangladesh in the world map positively. We hope that, with the support of the Government of Bangladesh, the summit will become bigger and stronger in the upcoming years, said Nadia Samdani, Director of Dhaka Art Summit at the opening ceremony.
Finance Minister Abul Maal Abdul Muhith, the chief guest at the opening ceremony, said, Appreciation of the work of an art is something that you cultivate yourself and the appreciation comes from within. Appreciating art is something that comes from a countrys culture naturally and over times the appreciation changes when you see an artwork from different angles. In this nine-day event we expect participation from several countries. The seminars, workshops and other activities in the event will give us more insight about appreciating more about art.
Cultural Affairs Minister Asaduzzaman Noor and Information Minister Hasanul Haque Inu as special guests while chairman of organising committee of Dhaka Art Summit Farooq Sobhan, BSA Director General Liaquat Ali Lucky, were present at the opening ceremony.
In an effort to encourage international artists to travel to Bangladesh DAS is playing a vital role as a global art platform of the country. DAS has also launched Research Fellows programme to support artistic researches in Bangladesh between each edition of DAS. This initiative has supported the work of many curators too.
Photos : jaki zaman
