A cornucopia of artistic expressions

It's an innovative idea to pass weekends in arts and with the artists. Five embassies -- Brazil, Germany, the Netherlands, Norway and Switzerland have hosted a two-day (July 24-25) joint “Art Weekend” at their respective ambassador's residencies. The exhibition remains open from 2pm to 8pm every day.

The rationale of the art weekend is to highlight and exhibit the works of local artists and photographers, and to foster a dialogue between the expat and local art lovers, prominent and emerging artists. 

Accomplished printmaker-painter Rokeya Sultana along with 10 of her students from various departments of Faculty of Fine Art of University of Dhaka, are displaying their artworks at the gallery and open space of Norwegian residence. 

Art lovers will get marveled with seeing a big canvas of tempera. Every single space of the canvas tells the tales of artistic saga. Warm blue, oceanic green and a matured orange dominate the canvas depicting the unfathomable beauty of the sea. The art piece is magically textured with burnt sienna, black and light purple. Rokeya's other works are abstract, semi-abstract, figurative and of nature. 

The students' works are no less impressive than Rokeya Sultana's. The talented young artists have worked on diverse media -- metal, ceramic, watercolour, acrylic, sculpture and more. The artworks exclusively delineate compositional beauty, light and shade and colours. Folk-themed forms on several small and flat ceramics are mention-worthy, while a tapestry work shimmers in vibrant hues. 

“Art Weekend” is the brainchild of Merete Lundemo, the Ambassador of Norway in Bangladesh and an avid art connoisseur. “I hope the artists of Bangladesh will be motivated through the art initiative. The local art scene will be mingled with the international community. Here art lovers will find a space to look at art and to exchange dialogues with the artists and with me,” said Merete Lundemo. 

Mahbubur Rahman, Tayeba Begum Lipi and others's work are being displayed at the Brazilian residence while Vinita Karim's works are being displayed in the residence of the Netherlands. “Bangladesh, Seen from Within by DRIK” is being held at the residence of Germany while Abir Abdullah's images are being on display at the residence of the Swiss ambassador.