Programme upholds Dhaka’s heritage

A daylong cultural programme titled ‘One mile square’ on preservation of the heritage, archaeological sites and ecological balance of old Dhaka was held at seventeen different locations in the city on December 4.
The programme jointly organised by Dhaka-based organisation Britto Arts Trust and London-based organisation Visiting Arts included mixed media installations and presentations, video installations, film screening of documentaries and drama performances.
Thirty-eight local and foreign artists displayed and presented their respective works in different areas in old Dhaka, including Ahsan Manzil, Beauty Boarding, Kalpana Boarding, Bulbul Lalitkala Academy, Laal Kuthi, Shyambazaar, Bahadur Shah Park and Shakhari Bazaar.
Sarah Khatun Miah’s ‘A carnival of life faded away’, Nasir Ahmed’s ‘Ek chilte roddur’, Sanjida Shaheed Sunny’s ‘Colour therapy’, Mohammad Wadud’s ‘Today’s Dhaka’, Rabi Khan’s ‘In search’ and Owen Benchet’s ‘Staging Dhaka’s awakening’, among others, presented artworks of mixed media installations, focusing on various aspects of the life and heritage of old Dhaka.
The installations of Sarah Khatun Miah, Mohammad Wadud and Owen Benchet focused mainly on the lustre and beauty of the lost heritage of old Dhaka. Tyeba Begum Lipi, Amirul Rajib, Anisuzzaman Sohel and Mohammad Ismail Hosain Neloy, among others, presented their artworks in digital image.
Mohammad Ismail Hosain Neloy’s digital image ‘Untitled’ dealt with the deterioration of values and currently prevailing injustice in Old Dhaka while Tyeba Begum Lipi’s ‘Madonna’ presented the endangered life of the Garo community.
The organisers screened a number of documentaries including Raihan Ahmed Rafi’s ‘Sky on Old Dhaka’, Molla Sagor’s ‘Gangabari’ and Saiful Wadud Helal’s ‘Cinemania’. The films dealt mostly with cultural diversity of ethnic communities and the environmental crises of old Dhaka. Ayesha Sultana and Manir Mrittik, among others, displayed their video presentations.
Nazmul Ahsan and Mahbubur Rahman, among others, presented their video installations.
Two short plays about the illegal land-grabbing in old Dhaka were also staged respectively at Ahsan Manjil and Dholai Khal. The plays were directed by Shaheed Ahmed Mithu and Rashuda Huda. ‘Our communities face increasing instability through the impact of cultural difference, climate change and destruction of local habitat. This programme focuses on creativity, community action, environmental engagement and intercultural dialogue in a bid to preserve our heritage and cultural diversity’, said Mahbubur Rahman who is one of the main collaborators of the programme.
The programme was the result of a two-month art project that included workshops on digital image and sound, video presentation, educational project, community based project, documentary filmmaking and preservation of green nature and ethnic culture.
The massive programme attracted a large number of locals from all walks of life, who enjoyed the exhibitions and presentations greatly.
Photo: The Daily Star

Source: Weekly Holiday