International crafts exhibition opens at Shilpakala

Whilst entering gallery no.3 of the National Art Gallery, Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy (BSA), one will encounter an array of experimental crafts on diverse media. The 4th New Crafts International Artists Group Exhibition titled Brilliant is underway at the gallery where artists and professors from a number of Asian universities from four countries -- Bangladesh, China, Sri Lanka and India – are showcasing their outstanding works. Faculty of Fine Art (FFA), University of Dhaka (DU); Tsinghua University and the Shanghai Art and Design Academy of China have organised the exhibition supported by BSA and Bengal Foundation.     

Professor Dr Md Akhtaruzzaman, Vice Chancellor of DU, inaugurated the exhibition yesterday as chief guest at the auditorium of National Art Gallery at BSA. Sun Yan, the Cultural Counselor of the People's Republic of China, attended the event as special guest while Professor Nisar Hossain, Dean, FFA, DU and Lu Xiaobo, Dean, Academy of Art and Design, Tsinghua University, delivered welcome addresses on behalf of the organising committee. Liaquat Ali Lucky, Director General of BSA presided over the programme.

“After Beijing, Tokyo and Shanghai, the world pays close attention to the prosperity of arts and crafts in the Oriental context. We are also increasingly aware of the urgent need of the time to revitalise Asian arts and crafts, to promote the feelings of Oriental arts and crafts, to explore in depth the differences between eastern and western art and crafts, and to stimulate the potential of Oriental culture,” said Lu Xiaobo.

“I hope the exhibition and seminar programme will play a significant role in art practice, and in the sharing of experiences about the conservation and exploration of crafts and traditional skills. At the same time, it will build a long term and effective education exchange programme between the University of Dhaka and Tsinghua University,” said Nisar Hossain.

The exhibition, running from 10 am to 8 pm daily, will continue until December 15. The first, second and third editions of the international exhibition were previously held in Beijing, China; Tokyo, Japan and Shanghai, China respectively.

An academic seminar was also held yesterday at the R C Majumdar auditorium of DU. Yang Dong Jiang, Vice President, Academy of Art and Design, Tsinghua University, inaugurated the exhibition. Eminent artist Professor Rafiqun Nabi presided over the session.