Hard Emotions opens at AFD

“Hard Emotions”, a solo exhibition of scrap metal sculpture by Arhamul Huq Chowdhury opened yesterday at the La Galerie of Alliance Francaise de Dhaka (AFD). The exhibition was jointly inaugurated by three physically challenged individuals. Bruno Plasse, Director of AFD, welcomed the guests and presided over the opening ceremony.

The sculptures were done at the Centre for the Rehabilitation of the Paralysed (CRP) in Savar, a rehabilitation centre where various mobility aids including wheelchairs, stretcher trolleys and crutches are made for the physically-challenged patients treated there. The sculptures are made from the off cuts and broken leftovers from these devices. Each piece carries an intense emotional juxtaposition and at times looks at the society and its systems in a rather comical way. The artist held a similar type of exhibition entitled “From the Ashes” at the Bengal Gallery in 2005. The artist is trained in anthropology and held various solo exhibitions in different genres, in furniture, Bangla Calligraphy, natural dye and Bonsai to name a few. Arhamul has been a volunteer for more than 16 years in CRP. It was founded by Valerie Taylor in 1979, who had been working since 1969 in this part of the world in the field of disability. CRP is a broad spectrum organization working in various fields of disability, especially spinal cord injury where even the poorest of the poor receive treatment, rehabilitation and vocational training. The charitable organization will receive all the proceeds from the exhibition, from all participants, including the host venue, the artist's agent and the artist himself.

The artist has put a great deal of emotion into each work, and hopes that its message will be conveyed to the visitors at the exhibition.

The exhibition will be open to all till Friday, October 7. It is open from 3pm-9pm on weekdays except for Sunday; and 9am-12pm and 5pm-8pm on weekends.