‘Life is Here’ is a solo exhibition of paintings by Kanak Chanpa Chakma with the opening on Saturday 15 November at 6 pm.

H.E. Ms. Hanne Fugl Eskjaer, Ambassador, Royal Danish Embassy, H.E. Mr. Shiro Sadoshima, Ambassador, Embassy of Japan and the eminent artist Mr. Hashem Khan. jointly inaugurated the exhibition.

Opening ceremony
6 pm, Saturday, 15 November, 2014
60 Gulshan Avenue, Circle 1, Dhaka 1212

The exhibition continued until 6 December 2014 and was open daily from 12 pm to 8 pm.

Bengal Art Lounge: Phone: +880-2 9895135 Email: [email protected]

Artist Name: Kanak Chanpa Chakma

Exhibition Press release: PRESS RELEASE “LIFE IS HERE”, a solo exhibition of paintings by KANAK CHANPA CHAKMA 15 NOVEMBER TO 6 DECEMBER 2014 Today, Saturday 15th November 2014 at 6pm was the opening of a 3-week solo exhibition of paintings entitled ‘Life is Here’ by Kanak Chanpa Chakma. The exhibition was inaugurated jointly by H.E. Ms. Hanne Fugl Eskjaer, Ambassador, Royal Danish Embassy, H.E. Mr. Shiro Sadoshima, Ambassador, Embassy of Japan and the eminent artist Mr. Hashem Khan. Mr. Abul Khair, Chairman, Bengal Foundation, Ms. Luva Nahid Choudhury, Director General, Bengal Foundation and Ms. Nawshin Khair, Director, Bengal Art Lounge were also present. Acclaimed for her colorful depiction of daily life in the Chittagong Hill Tract region, Kanak Chanpa reveals a new dimension of her talent in Life is Here. Her first solo exhibition in two years is made of a stunning collection of paintings varied in size, content and style  that constitute an oeuvre writes Prof. Manzoorul Islam of Dhaka University. The exhibition shows an artist who is at the peak of her creativity and is in control of her art he continues. Life is Here is conceived as a tribute to the Chakmas, a community of the Hill Tracts region of which Kanak Chanpa is herself a member. The painter does not pretend to realism: there is no explicit reference in this exhibition to the pressing social, economic and environmental issues that the people of the hills or adibashi as they are sometimes referred to are faced with. Kanak Chanpa instead builds her works on a subtle blend of reality and imagination, reflected for instance in the reproduction of innocuous elements of common use combs, flasks, beads… to poignantly recall long-gone stories of the land of her childhood. Women feature dominantly in Kanak Chanpa’s canvases. Carrying baskets or dreaming by the pond, they show strength and grace at once. The artist seeks to examine how women navigate in their private and community spaces, establish bonds with everything around and make meaning of their everyday life all the while remaining true to their own identities believes Manzoorul Islam. Their strong presence contrasts with their almost indefinite facial features often reinforced by the painter’s use of darker colors on the upper body part, and undoubtedly adds to the impression of serenity that characterizes Kanak Chanpa’s universe. Built on the long standing relationship between the artist and Bengal Foundation, Life is Here opens a window on the latest phase of the development of Kanak Chanpa’s immense artistic talent. Bengal Art Lounge is extremely proud to present this exhibition to the public. The exhibition will be open until 6 December everyday from 12 – 8 pm. Thanks for your coverage of this event, ______________________ Engr. Mahzabin Haque (Rothy) Senior Executive Bengal Art Lounge Contact: +8801715135209