Group show Finding Nirvana in Life: Buddha of Bengal at AFD

Group show Finding Nirvana in Life Buddha of Bengal began at AFD on Monday 20 May 2024.

A group art exhibition  Finding Nirvana in Life : Buddha of Bengal by the 42 artists of Bangladesh and India begun at La Galerie, Alliance Française de Dhaka on Monday, 20 May 2024 at 5.30 pm. Oriental Painting Study Group (OPSG) has organised the exhibition.

Bringing together 71 artworks by the artists from Bangladesh and India, for the second time, this exhibition explores traditional expressions of Buddhist Sacred Art within the region.A total of 33 Bangladeshi and nine Indian artists are showcasing their diverse artwork on the media including Oriental Painting, Sculpture, Ceramics, Paintings on Palm Leaves, Rickshaw Painting, Cinema Banner Painting, Wash Painting, Gouache Painting, Calligraphy Painting, Tempera and Patachitra.

The exhibition is curated by Mikhail I. Islam. Buddhist Vante Sanghananda Mohathero, Principal, Sylhet Bouddha Bihar, François Grosjean, Director, Alliance Française de Dhaka and Dr. Saymon Zakaria, Bangladeshi folk researcher and Deputy Director of the Department of Research, Bangla Academy attended the event as Honourable Guests.

The opening ceremony was followed by the premiere of the play 'নির্বাণ' (Nirvana) at Courtyard, Alliance Française de Dhaka at 7:30 pm, directed by Dr. Lata Samadder. The play 'নির্বাণ' has been adapted from Ashwa Ghosh's 'বুদ্ধচরিত ' Buddhacharita), which was translated by Sadhankamal Chowdhury. Dr. Lata Samadder and Md. Zahidul Islam jointly transformed the play. The students of Department of Theater and Media Studies, Tejgaon College, Dhaka and the members of OPSG will perform different roles in the play.

Professor Dr. Md. Harun-Or-Rashid, Principal, Tejgaon College, Dhaka  inaugurated the premiere show. The second show of the play 'নির্বাণ' (Nirvana) will be staged at the same venue and time on 22 May 2024.

Dr. Niru Shamsun Nahar, researcher, author and former director of Bangladesh National Museum, will present a paper on the title ‘Buddhist Lifestyle in Terracotta Art of Ancient Bengal (8th- 12th Century A.D.)’ at 5:30 pm on 21 May 2024.

The artists of Bhavnagar Sadhusangha will offer the performance of Charjapada Songs of Ancient Bengal at 5:30 pm on 23 May 2024.

The exhibition will be open to all till Thursday, 23 May 2024, every day from 3 to 9 pm.

Visiting Hours:  Monday to Thursday from 3 to 9 pm. – Press release