'Decorated Deeds' Bangla Calligraphy on Antique Documents at AFD Dhanmondi 14 Apr

Bagha bagha Fierce as tiger

20th solo exhibition by Arham ul Huq Chowdhury to open at La Galerie, Alliance Francaise, Dhaka, Dhanmondi

On Monday, 14 April 2025 at 6 pm

Visiting Hours: Monday to Saturday 3 to 9 pm until 26 April.

Arham–ul–Huq Chowdhury is a versatile Bangladeshi artist, calligrapher, sculptor, designer, and researcher whose creative journey spans over three decades and multiple mediums. With a formal academic background in Anthropology—holding both Bachelors and Masters degrees from the University of Dhaka—his work reflects a profound engagement with culture, heritage, and the environment. He has held numerous solo exhibitions since the mid-1990s, covering an eclectic range of forms including Bangla calligraphy, scrap metal sculpture, bonsai, art furniture, and batik using natural dye. His notable recent exhibitions include Layouts in Letters II (2024), a fundraising show for animal welfare, and Sculpture Retrospective (2019) at CRP, Savar. His celebrated series Duets in Metal and Water and Hard Emotions showcased sculptural fountains and scrap metal sculpture, while his forays into Bangla calligraphy have drawn deep cultural connections.

He has participated in a range of international and local workshops, including mold-making with Spanish artist Esperanza Romero, Turkish marbling art (Ebru), and design seminars conducted by British Council. His academic and personal research explores architectural anthropology, particularly focusing on life within Dhaka’s pre-partition heritage homes. He has contributed to national development efforts such as the Bangla Fonts Project for the National ID card with the Election Commission under UNDP.

Arham is a founder member of the Bangladesh Heritage Foundation and is affiliated with several organizations, including the Bangladesh Solar Energy Commission, Bangladesh Crafts Council, and Friends of CRP International. He currently works as a freelance artist, interior and landscape designer, and independent researcher engaged with heritage and environmental concerns.

His latest exhibition, Decorated Deeds, marks his 20th solo show and celebrates 30 years of his association with Alliance Française de Dhaka. Presented on the occasion of Pohela Boishakh—the Bangla New Year—this special series features 31 Bangla calligraphy artworks rendered on rare antique documents, some dating back to the East India Company and colonial periods. In this unique body of work, Arham overlays ancient Bangla idioms and proverbs onto vintage papers, symbolically linking linguistic heritage with the tangible remnants of historical narratives—preserving both art and memory. – Press release