This exhibition was held between 19 – 30 June 2008 at Akar Prakar, Kolkata, India. artists: Nazlee Laila Mansur, Farida Zaman, Nasreen Begum, Rokeya Sultana, Dilara Begum Jolly, Murshida Arzu Alpana, Kanak Chanpa Chakma, Tayeba Begum Lipi, Atia Islam Anne, Shulekha Chaudhury.

Bengal Gallery of Fine Arts was established by Bengal Foundation in April 2000. In the eight years of its operation, the Gallery has become a leading centre of art and learning in Dhaka. More than 250 local and international artist’s works’ have been showcased in the Gallery so far. In addition to catalogues and brochures, the Gallery has produced 40 documentary films on art. Bengal Foundation’s main focus lies with music, theatre and the visual arts. Through large-scale art camps organized at home and abroad, the Foundation seeks to create better opportunity for cultural exchange. The recently concluded exhibition of 7 Indian artists whose roots are in East Bengal, is testimony to the Gallery’s endeavour to bring artists closer. Two major exhibitions held this year in New York and Brussels have brought Bangladesh’s art to the fore and earned wide international acclaim. Faces of Feminine Expression has been organized by Bengal Gallery of Fine Arts jointly with Akar Prakar as a statement of regional collaboration.

Faces of Feminine Expression features the works of ten noted women artists of Bangladesh. This may be the first such show held away from home. Each artist, through her unique construct, represents mainstream Bangladesh art. The artist’s feminity lends her the insight to delve into her inner self, which in turn leads to an exploration of life and its beginnings. The notion that women embody fertility and inspirational energy is deeply entrenched in Indian philosophy. The feminine spirit is believed to be imbued with a fierceness of purpose, matched only by inner bounty and grace. These notions have been nurtured by dialogues rooted in tradition and context. And, it is these contexts that the women artists seek to explore and demystify. In this journey there is also satire and ridicule, aimed at a society that has lost its bearings. The exhibition features a diverse array of styles and languages that we assume, will push the boundaries of inquiry in the art scene of West Bengal.

Date: Date: 19/06/2003 – 30/06/2003
Venue: Akar Prakar
Entry condition: open to all