Shared Horizons, a day-long international watercolour exhibition celebrating 50 years of Bangladesh-China diplomatic relations, opened on Tuesday at the Garden Gallery Cosmos in the capital’s Baridhara area.
Eminent artist Professor Emeritus Rafiqun Nabi inaugurated the exhibition as the Guest of Honour.
Organised by Gallery Cosmos, the exhibition features 28 curated works by two distinguished artists — Ma Baiqi, Master Watercolour Artist from China; and Mong Mong Sho, lecturer at Yunnan Arts University and PhD candidate at the China Academy of Art. Their works explore cultural harmony and shared artistic expression through contemporary watercolour practices.
Speaking at the opening ceremony, Dr Abdul Moyeen Khan, Member of the BNP Standing Committee, said art remains one of the most effective bridges between nations.
“The simplest and easiest path to diplomacy is art and culture. Music, dance, painting — these transcend borders and communicate without language. This is how we build peace,” he said.
Li Shaopeng, Cultural Counsellor of the Embassy of China in Dhaka, described the event as a testament to profound people-to-people ties.
“It is a pleasure to join this important event. This year marks the 50th anniversary of our diplomatic relations, and next year will mark the 10th anniversary of Bangladesh joining the Belt and Road Initiative. Culture will endure far beyond commerce, and through these beautiful paintings we understand each other deeply,” he said.
He added that more collaborative art programmes are planned in the coming year, including exchange exhibitions between Bangladeshi and Chinese artists.
Enayetullah Khan, Editor-in-Chief of UNB and founder of the Bangladesh Centre for China Studies, said the exhibition carries special significance in the history of bilateral relations as the occasion was a meaningful celebration of the 50 years of Bangladesh-China friendship.
“This is a very special evening,” he said. “Cosmos Foundation has long been engaged in fostering cultural ties, and as the founder of the Bangladesh Centre for China Studies, my connection with China runs deep. We are honoured to host Ma Baiqi, a master watercolourist, as the resident artist of Gallery Cosmos. I hope our bonding will grow stronger and that more of his colleagues will join future exchanges.”
Chairman of Gallery Cosmos and Cosmos Atelier 71 Khan also thanked Mong Mong Sho, describing him as a Bangladeshi-Chinese artist contributing significantly to bilateral cultural understanding.
“At the people-to-people level, our relations are already strong,” he said, acknowledging guests who have been instrumental in advancing Bangladesh-China ties.
He praised the Gallery Cosmos team for their dedication.