The largest ART Extravaganza Returns

With an aim to unite diverse creative minds from the art arena of Asia, the-month long 18th Asian Art Biennale Bangladesh (AABB) 2018 begins tomorrow at the National Art Gallery of Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy (BSA). 

The Asian Art Biennale, besides being the pioneering art biennale of Asia, is also one of the biggest in the world. More than 400 artists will be participating from 68 countries.

A press conference was held yesterday at BSA where Minister of Cultural Affairs, Asaduzzaman Noor, Cultural Affairs Secretary Nasir Uddin Ahmed, DG of BSA Liaquat Ali Lucky and director of the Department of Fine Arts of BSA, Ashraful Alam Paplu elaborated on various aspects of the biennale.

“This grand arrangement of art is the yardstick of measuring our cultural strength, excellence and advancement,” says Asaduzzaman Noor. “I believe that within the next three years, a revolutionary change will take place at the upazilla level of BSA.”

Apart from the competition, the 18th AABB will also feature exhibitions by the specially invited artists and the old masters along with the display of performance art and installation by artists from all over the world.

A number of foreign critics, connoisseurs, curators and enthusiasts will also attend the grand art fiesta. Like the previous years, organisers will give away nine awards, including three grand and six honourable mention-awards.

The president of the People's Republic of Bangladesh, Abdul Hamid, will inaugurate the biennale as chief guest at the National Theatre Hall auditorium of BSA at 3pm, today. Cultural Affairs Minister Asaduzzaman Noor will also attend the programme as special guest while Professor Emeritus Tetsuya Noda, an observer of the 18th AABB, will be present as an honourable guest. Liaquat Ali Lucky, DG, BSA, will deliver a welcome address. The internationally renowned Bangladeshi artist Shahabuddin Ahmed, who is also the chairman of the biennale jury board, will declare the award winners. The Secretary to the Ministry of Cultural Affairs, Nasir Uddin Ahmed, will preside over the programme. 

Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy, in association with the Ministry of Cultural Affairs is organising the grand art event.

The month-long biennale will exclusively showcase the time-honoured artistic and cultural heritage of Bangladesh, and the exhibition is open from 11am to 8pm every day.