In the heart of London’s East End, the Spitalfields Studios Gallery recently unveiled "Echoes of Existence", a solo exhibition by the Bangladeshi artist Ruhul Amin Tarek— representing a thoughtful, spiritually charged journey through form, time, memory, and landscape. With 64 diverse works ranging from woodcuts to drypoints, acrylics to pencil sketches, Tarek invites the viewer into a contemplative realm where art becomes a mirror for inner life, the human condition, and nature’s silent testimony.
After a hectic day at work, I found myself rushing to Gallery Chitrak last Sunday evening to indulge in “Nandonpot”, a group art exhibition inaugurated on the day of the summer solstice (June 21). I could hardly control my excitement before entering the gallery, and like most of the time, I was not disappointed. “Nandonpot” is a visual group art exhibition displaying artworks by artists from various generations. Notably, Eminent artist Professor Hamiduzzaman Khan, art critic Moinuddin Khaled, and Country Chief Risk Officer Mohammad Enamul Haque of Standard Chartered Bank, attended the opening ceremony as guests.
The Bangladeshi photographer, educator, and journalist breathed his last on Friday, June 20, at approximately 9:30pm, while undergoing treatment at a private hospital in Dhaka. He was 68. The pioneer in Bangladeshi photography had been battling various health complications for an extended period, a battle he fought with characteristic resilience until the end.
At the heart of the play is the tragic trial of the Greek philosopher Socrates, whose unwavering pursuit of truth and reason led to a death sentence handed down by 501 jurors in ancient Athens. Accused of corrupting the youth and rejecting the state-sanctioned gods, Socrates could have chosen exile or even escaped. But instead, he accepted his fate and drank hemlock with stoic resolve, a moment immortalised in both philosophy and theatre.
A total of 120 writers, artists, performers, filmmakers, academics, and cultural activists from across the country have jointly condemned the reported decision to remove the mural titled “Anjali Laho Mor” from the campus of Jatiya Kabi Kazi Nazrul Islam University in Trishal, Mymensingh.
Written and directed by Shakil Ahmed Sonet, the play draws from the spirit of monsoon revolutions and presents what the director describes as “a chronicle of our times”—a poetic yet brutal narrative set against the backdrop of gunshots, grief, and fragmented dreams.
The Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy (BSA) has kicked off a vibrant new art initiative titled “Bhashajog: Celebrating Expression through Language in Printmaking”, spotlighting the country’s rich linguistic and cultural diversity. The weeklong workshop began on June 13 at the National Art Gallery Plaza in Shegun Bagicha, Dhaka, and will run through June 21, offering four daily sessions to a total of 80 registered participants each day.
Emon, an actor and advisor from Prachyanat, was the only participant from Asia and played a dual role as both actor and country representative. While two other Bangladeshi artists—actor Nahida Ankhi and choreographer Diana Merlin—were initially selected, both were unable to join due to visa issues.
Dwip Gallery in Lalmatia opened its doors to the second exhibition of its kind, “Miniscope 2”, on April 26. Flaunting creative gateways for diverse artists from both Bangladesh and India, it is currently hosting miniature and endearing artworks.
Observed worldwide today, International Dance Day is a global celebration of dance’s power to connect people beyond borders. It’s a day that highlights the joy of movement and raises awareness of dance as an expressive, educational, and unifying force.
In celebration of International Dance Day, Dhaka is set to host a special dance extravaganza titled “Nrityasudha” this Monday evening. The event, organised by Nrityam Nrityashilon Kendra, will take place at 7pm at the Bangladesh Mohila Samity auditorium.
Multiple theatre troupes claim they applied to book shows during these “reserved” slots — and were denied. When the list of reservations became public, the frustration spilled onto social media. On the Facebook group “Theatre Connection,” theatre activist Zubair Zahid posted a blunt question: “What kind of artistic practice requires 54 working days across three auditoriums?”
The play explores the psychological and physical toll of World War I, tracing the journey of young soldiers as they are transformed from patriotic youths into disillusioned veterans.
Theatre Factory is set to debut its latest production, “Komola Rong er Bodh”, a theatrical homage to the life and works of renowned Bengali poet Jibanananda Das. The play, written and directed by Alok Basu, will premiere on May 9 at the Mohila Samity stage in Dhaka, with additional performances scheduled for May 10 and 11.
Acclaimed photojournalist Sony Ramani has unveiled his first solo photography exhibition at the National Art Gallery of Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy (BSA), spotlighting the growing environmental crisis engulfing the capital. The exhibition opened today at 5:30pm and will welcome visitors daily from 3pm to 8 pm until April 24.
'Drik' has been hosting the Bangladesh Press Photo Contest since 2022, to highlight the success and work lives of photojournalists. We salute all the hardworking, courageous, and talented male and female photographers and photojournalists.
Around the mid-2000s, a young Munem Wasif, with his rickety Soviet-era Zenit camera, found himself indulging in the allures of the older parts of Dhaka. Infinite lived experiences and thousands of shutter counts later, his first magnum opus, “Belonging”, came to life in 2012. This photo book became one of the most revered photographic bodies of work in Bangladesh’s visual art history.
On Friday afternoon, cultural activists presented their views at a seminar titled “Review and Proposal of the Cultural Sector Budget.” The event was organised by the Theatre Artists Association of Dhaka (TAD) in the seminar room of the Shilpakala Academy.
