‘Majhi International Art Residency Programme’ sets off in Venice tomorrow

Durjoy Bangladesh Foundation (DBF) proudly presents the first edition of Majhi International Art Residency Programme, which will take place in Venice, Italy, from July 20 to August 4. The programme, organised in collaboration with Lightbox, will feature eleven international artists from South Asia and Europe. Their production during the residency will investigate compelling issues in current lines of discourse around contemporary art. The participating artists’ final exhibition will open on August 3 and continue till August 11 at Combo, Venice, Italy.

Artwork by David Galla Venezia

“Artistic and cultural exchange and cooperation through residency programmes can increase understanding between countries and cultures. A variety of artists from South Asia and Europe will partake in the exchange,” said Durjoy Rahman Joy, the renowned art collector, patron and the founder of DBF. “The programme is expected to create opportunities for giving insight into the cultural background of each participant.” The selected artists come from different regions of the world: six of them are Bangladeshi, others have cultural roots in Turkey and Germany, while four are Venezians. They are - Dilara Begum Jolly, Dhali Al-Mamoon, Rajaul Islam (Lovelu), Noor Ahmed Gelal, Uttam Kumar Karmaker and Kamruzzaman Shadhin from Bangladesh; Turkish/German Umut Yasat and Chiara Tubia, Cosima Montavoci, Andrea Morucchio and David Dalla Venezia from Venice.

 “As the participating artists have already developed important elements in contemporary art, connecting the local art scene with the global art world, they hope to build artistic bridges between countries and cultures,” said Durjoy.

Artwork by Dhali Al-Mamoon

Over their stay, the artists are invited to reflect upon the open question “Does life in these uncertain times of crisis and turmoil, make art more interesting?” inspired by the title of the 58th International Art Exhibition – La Biennale di Venezia, curated by Ralph Rugoff “May You Live in Interesting Times”.

The artists will live and work at Combo, an historic and vibrant palazzo. The residency will follow the group exhibition at the same place.

Majhi is the first instalment of a series of brief artistic residencies to be promoted year round. The aim of the programme to gather international artists in order to foster mutual understanding and cooperation, and open a dialogue between professionals from different corners of the world with those of the South Asian artistic scene.

Artwork by Kamruzzaman Shadhin

Though DBF is not yet a year-old entity,  it has completed a major art donation programme with Kunstmuseum in Wolfsburg  in Germany in 2018,  by donating  an installation  by artist Mithu Sen (India). That was the first time a major  German institution collected a work of an Indian female contemporary artist’s work  in Germany.

“In July, we are supporting a major exhibition in Netherland in Arnhem Museum about climate change and social justice. Work of a prominent Ghanaian artist, Serge Attukwei Clottey, will be exhibited from my collection and the work will be donated to museum’s collection after the show,” said Durjoy Rahman Joy.