‘Ora Egaro Jon:’ Augmented Reality infused art exhibition held at Dhaka Gallery

An inventive blending of diverse creative showcases, the third edition of Ora Egaro Jon, presented by Bangladesh Art Week, a voice of Bangladesh's art industry that provides a platform for emerging and established artists to showcase their artwork in an international context, brought together internationally renowned and established Bangladeshi artists alongside invited younger artists.

Bangladesh Art Week introduced A.R.E (Augmented Reality Exhibition), a collection of portable generative art showcasing the work of 11 female artists at Dhaka Gallery, a concept that brings together some of the best generative art in South Asia, offering a uniquely immersive art experience.

Distinguished guests at the event, including His Excellency Amir Farid Abu Hasan, the Deputy High Commissioner of Malaysia to Bangladesh appreciated the technology showcasing the art.

"According to Forbes, Augmented Reality will be one of the most transformative tech trends of the next five years and we are aiming to be the pioneers in Bangladesh. We are also hopeful of organising events like this every year," said Niharika Momtaz, curator of the event and also the Founder of Bangladesh Art Week.

A total of 31 art pieces were on display in the gallery, representing the burgeoning socially conscious community of Bangladeshi artists. From a metal sculpture by Nasima Haque Mitu that associates a metaphoric connection between humans and plants to a painting of a utopian praying mat by Dinar Sultana Putul which displays a painterly arabesque charm, the event encompassed sculpture, photography, mixed media construction, and sculptural furniture and animation presentations.

What this exhibition deftly featured was the emotions of all the women who are part of it, like how Lala Rukh Selim, a prominent sculptor and professor at the Department of Sculpture, University of Dhaka, emphasizes women's psyche, essence, inner workings and significance in her artistic expression.

"My mother passed away with COVID-19. Ever since then, I have been feeling how nothing is lasting in this life. So with my work, I am showing the vulnerability, struggle that women face in everyday life and how that transcendence to women's search of balance in society," said Lala Rukh Selim when asked what her work signifies.

Alongside established artists, the exhibition also featured aspiring artists like Afroza Hossain Sara; a freelance conceptual animator is taking her drawing and painting skills to animation filmmaking. Regarding her work process, Sara said," I like to first hand draw all my concepts to get the right feel, and then I use software's to get them into animated form. Even though hand drawn can be time consuming, I feel it adds more authentic feel to my overall process."

An online timed auction took place in Bangladesh Art Week's Facebook page and website where the highest bidders bought the artworks displayed at the exhibition. The exhibition took place from 24 June to 25 June at the premises of Dhaka Gallery.

Essentials:

Participant Artists:  Shireen Jawad - Singer / Musician ,Lala Rukh Selim - Sculptor ,Habiba Nowrosh  - Photographer, Dinar Sultana Putul - soft sculpture ,Shuborna Morshaed - Print Maker,Fareha Zeba - Print Maker, Afroza Hossain Sara- Animator ,Nasima Haque Mitu - Sculptor ,Asma Akber - Visual Artist ,Nabila Nawrin - Architect & Furniture Designer ,Promiti Hossain - Visual Artist 

Bangladesh Art Week Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/bangladeshartweek

Website: https://www.bangladeshartweek.com/

Dhaka Gallery Address:  Banani Road 12, Block E, House number 44, Dhaka.