‘From Manila to Dhaka, Unity in Diversity: An Art Exposition’, Kalidas Karmakar’s last exhibition

Internationally acclaimed Bangladeshi artist and printmaker Kalidas Karmakar passed away yesterday, due to a cardiac arrest, at the age of 73. The Ekushey Padak winner received many other awards and accolades for his contribution to the arts. Kalidas’ artworks echo symbolic, abstract and semi-abstract imageries and represent the connotations of our glorious Liberation War, various social phenomena and their perceptions, unwanted political unrest and the life sketches of the people of our part of the world. He would often choose the word ‘Alluvial’ to title many of his solo exhibitions. From Manila to Dhaka, Unity in Diversity: An Art Exposition, was the last exhibition that he participated in.

Kalidas Karmakar, Photo: Sheikh Mehedi Morshed

Kalidas Karmakar’s painting on display at the exhibition.

In observance of United Nations Month of Museums and Galleries, From Manila to Dhaka, Unity in Diversity: An Art Exposition is underway at the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) Gallery in Manila. The event is supported by NCCA and co-presented by the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation, and the Embassy of Bangladesh in Manila.

Dedicated to contemporary arts, the exhibition is a joint initiative by the National Committee on Art Galleries and National Committee on Visual Arts, Manila. 14 artists from different countries are participating at the exhibition with a selection of 20 artworks.

Tres Roman, who spearheaded the project, invited foreign artists whom he met at the 18th Asian Art Biennale Bangladesh, held in Dhaka, in September 2018.

The other featured artists at the exhibition are: Nickolas Aca, Esmeraldo Abalde and Tres Roman from the Philippines, Sourav Chowdhury and Kamal Uddin from Bangladesh, Uwe Jonas from Germany, Fadly Sabran from Malaysia, Marco Miranda of Mexico, Bashar Alhroub from Palestine, Antoni Grabowski from Poland, Maitree Homthong of Thailand, Dinh Duc Vinh from Vietnam and Abdoul-Ganiou Dermani from Togo. The show will run until October 31.