Weaving Stories: An exhibition strengthening cross national exchanges

"Weaving Stories", a multidisciplinary art exhibition that brings together the narratives of eight different projects organised by the Goethe-Institut Bangladesh was inaugurated recently at DrikPath Bhaban in Panthapath.

The exhibition that brings together the narratives of eight different projects realised through the Goethe Pop Up Festival 2021. It is a part of their 60-year celebration programme.

Dr Kirsten Hackenbroch, in her welcoming speech said, "The pop up projects have been part of a shift in the way we engage in Bangladesh. The Goethe-Institut Bangladesh has been in Dhaka for 60 years, with the aim of fostering cultural dialogue between the people of our countries. Increasingly we have asked ourselves, How accessible are we? Whom are we accessible to? Whose voices do we hear, and which ones did we miss? At 60 years, we wanted to leave the capital and any "well-trodden paths" and move beyond with all the creative freedom we could offer."

Inaugurating the exhibition, as the chief guest, Managing Editor of  Prothom Alo, Sajjad Sharif said, "Goethe-Institute is celebrating its 60th anniversary with a very thoughtful exhibition. This exhibition is a vibrant expression of the indomitable creativity of the people from the different corners of Bangladesh."

Last year as part of its 60 years in Dhaka, the Goethe-Institut Bangladesh initiated a unique venture highlighting the cultural projects from across the country with the signature name Goethe Pop Up. With a call for proposals, the venture was set in motion with ideas submitted by curators, academicians and specialists from all across Bangladesh. From a number of high-quality concepts, reflecting on the diversity of expressions and the representation of the variety of unique approaches, the Goethe-Institut selected eight curatorial partnerships or artist collectives to integrate into an ecosystem of multiple Goethe Pop Ups across Bangladesh.

With an aim to develop new ideas that resonate with local audiences as well as align with the Goethe-Institut's objectives to strengthen existing cultural relations, the exhibition fosters new and meaningful ways of cross-national exchanges with the purpose of reflecting on and producing knowledge.

From an expedition in Dinajpur, dreams floating on the calm water of Chalan Beel, the songs of the Bhati region, the lost rivers, and the lost tunes of the hills to their resilience, stitching new ideas and finally breaking the boundaries, the exhibition provides a glimpse of the off-centers and explores the stories from different parts of Bangladesh.

The projects include Bhati-Scape, Book Bakery, Bhoyer Bhukhondo- terrains of fear, Floating Dream comes Home, Hill Film Festival, Native Roots and Once There were Rivers. The projects, their curators, and locations are 'Native Roots' by Asifuzzaman Khan and Younguang Mro in Bandarban, 'Floating Dream comes Home.' by Ashfika in Chalan Beel, Singra, Natore, 'Book Bakery' by Shohrab Jahan in Chittagong, 'Bhati-scape' by Arfun Ahmed in the Bhati region and online, 'Once there were Rivers' by Mahenaz Chowdhury and Simone Simonato in Demra and Berlin, '5th Hill Film Festival' by Adit Dewan and the Jum Film Forum in Rangamati, In the Terrains of Fear' by Ghartera in Dhaka, and 'Kahichal' by Ruxmini Reckvana Q Choudhury in Dinajpur.

Conceived as a vessel for hybrid, ambitious projects, the Goethe Pop Up speak across and between frameworks, both conceptual, as well as physical. The exhibition concluded on March 23.