Bangladesh Art Week unveils its 4th edition with public-spirited art

Bangladesh Art Week is currently presenting the 4th edition of its flagship exhibition, Ora Egaro Jon (They Are Eleven People). Inaugurated on April 26, the cultural experience runs till May 25 at Meta Garage, Dubai, celebrating art and social consciousness.

- Muhammad Yusuf, Features Writer

The exhibition perhaps has its location in an unexpected art space — a luxury automotive showroom, transformed into a bold artistic platform. The show is a jubilant commemoration of contemporary Bangladeshi creativity, where tradition, identity and social consciousness, intersect. Curated by Niharika Momtaz and Venus Hosseini, it features a diverse group of artists, who explore concepts of resilience, memory, and cultural heritage.

Focusing on the theme 'Ora Egaro Jon', the exhibition marks the spirit of togetherness and collective unity, and pays homage to the collective spirit of Bangladesh's art territory. The exhibition promotes unity through contemporary art, with eleven exemplary artist practitioners who work in paint, performance, textiles, and multimedia. Each artist, with their individual voices, strike up a dialogue between the past and present and the personal and political, with their numbers underlining the name of the show.

Niharika Momtaz, the curator of Bangladesh Art Week, is renowned for blending social issues with art and culture. Her curatorial approach emphasises creative engagement and collaborative work within the community; she is a key figure in the regional art world. Venus Hosseini, a curator and performing arts expert of Iranian descent, brings a global perspective to the exhibition. Her extensive work globally, particularly in Germany, has fashioned her multifaceted curatorial approach, intertwining diverse cultures through visual and performing arts.