Research-based art exhibition "River Delta" has begun at La Galerie of the Alliance Française de Dhaka (AFD). River and Delta Research Center Chairman Mohammad Azaz attended the opening ceremony as the special guest Friday. River Delta is the first phase of an ongoing five-year study on Bangladesh's rivers. The exhibition is curated by Juel A Rob.  Artists Apu Raj Bongshi, Mohosin Kabir, Shimul Datta, Najmun Nahar Keya, Promotesh Das Pulak and Mohammad Hasanur Rahman are participating in the exhibition. Since Bangladesh is a riverine country, a large part of its food chain, trade, communication, and livelihood are river centric. Many communities are directly connected to rivers. The ebb and flow of the rivers weave the stories of many communities, including fishermen, river gipsies, washermen, salt cultivators, sailors, and shrimpers. However, after the passage of 51 years, Bangladesh has started to take precautions regarding the proper maintenance of water resources, said the AFD. So, it is very important to create awareness at all levels of society, to have constructive discussions, discharge civic and state responsibilities, and to prepare for the next step by studying different types of case studies, it added. "In that case, it is very important to understand the internal or international political context. Many issues, including complexities within the country, river encroachment; protection of river environment, aquatic life and fauna diversity, international power politics, protection of potable water bodies, ocean and river governance, are involved here," the AFD said.

Showcasing the rich history of Bangladesh's illustrious silk industry as well as efforts to support and promote local designs, a three-day exclusive solo fashion exhibition titled ‘Majestic Silks of Bangladesh Exhibition by Maheen Khan’, is currently underway at the Nordic Club, Gulshan in the capital. The solo design exhibition began on Tuesday (December 27, 2022), featuring some of the unique designs of eminent Bangladeshi fashion designer Maheen Khan, the founding president of the Fashion Design Council of Bangladesh (FDCB) and the founding managing director of Mayasir, a trend-setting brand that emphasizes the nation's traditional embroidery. Sharing her motifs and visions with UNB regarding her major solo exhibition in a long time, Maheen Khan said that this event is proudly showcasing some of the exclusive, handmade crafts as a befitting tribute to the country’s majestic silks. Read more: BGMEA, Fashion Design Council to promote khadi globally

On the eve of Bangladesh’s Victory Day, the exhibition titled ‘Witnessing History in the Making: Photographs by Anne de Henning’ was inaugurated at the Liberation War Museum in Dhaka. The exhibition, curated by Ruxmini Reckvana Q Choudhury, showcases some rare and iconic photographs that celebrate Bangladesh’s indomitable courage during the 1971 Liberation War against Pakistani military and the man who led the nation during its most trying and finest hour, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. On Thursday, the exhibition was inaugurated with the presence of State Minister for Power, Energy and Mineral Resources and Trustee of Center for Research and Information (CRI) Nasrul Hamid, Education Minister Dr Dipu Moni, Director of Samdani Art Foundation Nadia Samdani, State Minister for Cultural Affairs KM Khalid, State Minister for ICT Zunaid Ahmed Palak and others. Renowned French photographer Anne de Henning was supposed to attend the opening of the exhibit, however, she was unable to join due to a flight delay. State Minister for Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Nasrul Hamid said: "Henning was a fearless young woman. She traveled across Bangladesh to take photos; fear could not stand in her way." "I told Henning that you only had your camera to accompany you. And then I asked if she was concerned about her safety," Nasrul said. "She said she knew nothing called fear at that time and was full of courage, and the photos that she took are a testament to that. Only one name – 'Mujib' – inspired her in her journey. She came to Bangladesh again in 1972 to discover more about her source of inspiration." "As Henning came here, she found Sheikh Mujibur Rahman sitting on the stage. The colourful photos of that time can be seen at this exhibition," Nasrul said.

To celebrate the 51st Victory Day of Bangladesh, 55 Bangladeshi and 20 international artists will participate in a special group art exhibition at Dubai International Art Center (DIAC) in the UAE from December 12 to 21. The 10-day art exhibition, "Bijoy" is organised by Funun Arts of the UAE and Mahfuz Canvas of Bangladesh. The participating self-taught artists will showcase their work, depicting that art is beyond borders, according to the organisers. Read: ‘Evolution’: Abdullah Al Bashir’s second solo exhibition begins at AFD The Consul General of Bangladesh in Dubai and the Northern Emirates BM Jamal Hossain and Emirati entrepreneur and Chairman of Al Zarooni Foundation Suhail Mohd Al Zarooni, a renowned Emirati collector and Guinness Book World Record holder, will inaugurate the art event. PowerPac, a concern of Sikder Group, is the title sponsor of the exhibition. "We are proud to sponsor this special tribute exhibition to the Victory of Bangladesh, with a specific focus on encouraging artists to improve their creations by giving them a global platform and encouraging them to honour the cultures of Bangladesh and history through their artworks," according to PowerPac. Read: Photo exhibition by Mongol Deep Foundation begins in city Mahfuzur Rahman, the founder of Mahfuz Canvas, said this endeavour is their greatest international achievement yet, and this is the largest overseas self-taught Bangladeshi artists' art exhibition to date. Shiba Khan and Farah Khan, founders of Funun Arts, one of the most vibrant art platforms in the UAE, said they aim to represent art and bring talents to light. "Artists are also given complete freedom to present themselves in their ways."

A five-day photo exhibition on the life, norms, culture, festivals and stories of the Hajong people, an ethnic group from northern parts of Bangladesh, ended at the Jahangirnagar University (JU) Saturday. "The Story of Hajong Tale" by Ruposhree Hajong, a masters student of the fine arts department of JU, started Tuesday to let people know more about the ways of Hajong – mainly living in Haluaghat and Dhobaura of Mymensingh; Shribordi, Jhinaigati and Nalitabari of Sherpur; Sunamganj Sadar upazila, Dhorompasha, Taherpur, Bishwambharpur and Duarabazar of Sunamganj – life. Twenty-four photos were showcased at The Story of Hajong Tale.

Bangladeshi artist Jannatul Fardous Meghla scooped up the first prize at the first Annual Student Art Show (ASAS) in the UAE's Dubai. Organised by UAE-based Art Group Funun Arts at De Montfort University, 320 student artists from 60 nationalities participated in ASAS from November 4-6, focusing on 16 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Artist Meghla won the first prize in the third category for her painting "Give Clean Water," which was based on SDG Goal 6: Clean water and sanitation. She is now pursuing her BSc in architecture from North South University. Also, another Bangladeshi calligraphy artist Shamsunnahar Tasnim, a tenth-grader at Jannatul Banat Madrasha in Dhaka, received an award for her Arabic calligraphy on SDG Goal 3: Good health and well-being. The event was inaugurated by entrepreneur and Chairman of the Al Zarooni Foundation Suhail Mohd Al Zarooni, also a renowned Emirati collector and Guinness Book World Record holder, and Ahmad Al Awadhi Rukni, a renowned Emirati artist. Read: GENTLE GRASS: Faroque unveils his world in first solo exhibition in Dhaka The founder of Funun Arts Shiba Khan and Farah Khan initiated this large-scale student art show and the inaugural edition welcomed 26 self-taught artists from Bangladesh under the mentorship of artist Mahfuzur Rahman through Mahfuz Canvas.

In all of recorded history, she was the first author to be given a name. Furthermore, the poet-princess-priestess was not a Greek historical figure. According to Sidney Babcock, curator of the recently inaugurated exhibition “She Who Wrote: Enheduanna and Women of Mesopotamia, ca 3400-2000 BC” at New York City’s Morgan Library, “When people ask who the first author is, they never guess anyone in Mesopotamia, and it’s never a woman.” He claims that most of the time, they refer to an ancient Greek figure, according to a BBC special feature. If they do refer to a female author, it’s Sappho, who lived more than a millennium later and whose writings survive less than those of Mesopotamia’s Enheduanna. Read more: Female artists dominate the Venice Biennale for 1st time You won’t be the only one if you haven’t heard of her. Up until 1927, Enheduanna was completely unknown to modern society. However, Sir Leonard Woolley, an archaeologist, discovered items that bear her name. As the high priestess of the moon deity Nanna-Suen, she wrote 42 temple hymns and three stand-alone poems that scholars consider to be important contributions to Mesopotamia’s literary legacy, much like the “Epic of Gilgamesh” (which is not credited to a specific author). Her name in Sumerian means “Ornament of Heaven”, the BBC feature says. Enheduanna was a political figure in addition to being a religious leader and priestess. She was also the daughter of Sargon the Great, who some historians believe to be the one who established the first empire in world history. She was particularly important in bringing Akkad, the northern Mesopotamian region where Sargon initially attained power, together before he later conquered the southern Sumerian city-states. She did this by emphasising the connections between the rituals and beliefs associated with the Akkadian goddess Ishtar and the Sumerian goddess Inanna in her literary and religious hymns and songs, thereby establishing a shared set of beliefs throughout the empire. Enheduanna composed 42 hymns for as many temples in the southern part of Mesopotamia. The poems were transcribed by scribes at the temples for hundreds of years after Enheduanna’s death, according to the BBC. Read more: Anne de Henning’s rare photos of Bangladesh’s birth, Bangabandhu to have Paris exhibition On clay tablets, with wedge-shaped impressions known as cuneiform, are Enheduanna’s works on display throughout the presentation. She recounts the creative process in the following passage from her poem “The Exaltation of Inanna”: I have given birth, Oh exalted lady, (to this song) for you. That which I recited to you at (mid)night May the singer repeat it to you at noon! Babcock expects that the show at New York City’s Morgan Library would raise Enheduanna’s profile. Read more: Ukraine: UNESCO World Heritage Sites

The Japanese printmaking exhibition "Photographic Images and Matter: Japanese Prints of the 1970s," which began recently, is still underway at the Liberation War Museum in Dhaka. Divided into two sections, the exhibition is showcasing "The Age of Photographic Images," and "Images of Autonomous Matter," giving visitors a sense of Japanese art trends in the 1970s. The two-week exhibition is displaying the award-winning works of 14 distinguished printmakers and professors from Japan. It is also presenting a wide range of palettes, styles, and traditions of Japanese printmaking. The exhibition is jointly organised by the Embassy of Japan in Bangladesh and the Japan Foundation. Read: Japan Foundation print exhibition to be held at Liberation War Museum State Minister for Culture KM Khalid inaugurated the exhibition recently. Japanese Ambassador to Bangladesh Ito Naoki was present. During the opening ceremony, Ambassador Naoki conferred the Japanese foreign minister's commendation to Professor Syed Abul Barq Alvi of the Department of Printmaking of the University of Dhaka for his contribution to printmaking and role in promoting Bangladesh-Japan ties. The exhibition will continue till September 29.

On the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Japan and Bangladesh, the Japan Foundation in collaboration with the Embassy of Japan in Bangladesh will organize a traveling exhibition titled “Photographic Images and Matter: Japanese Prints of the 1970s’’ at the Liberation War Museum. The event will be inaugurated on Friday (September 16), and will remain open to visitors till September 29, except Sundays. State Minister for Cultural Affairs K.M Khalid will inaugurate the exhibition as the chief guest and eminent artist Professor Syed Abul Barq Alvi will be present as special guest, along with Japanese Ambassador to Bangladesh Ito Naoki, according to the Japanese Embassy in Dhaka.

The 23rd edition of the Young Artists' Fine Arts Exhibition came to an end at the National Art Gallery of Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy (BSA) Saturday. Known as one of the flagship art events of the BSA, the month-long biennale exhibition is organised by the BSA's fine arts department. It showcased 422 artworks by 356 artists this year. Since 1975, the biennale exhibition has earned recognition from art lovers around the whole nation as a festivity and celebration of modern artworks and crafts.