Visitors thronged the final day of 'Search Soul, Soil', a group art exhibition featuring works by seven contemporary Bangladeshi artists at Alliance Française de Dhaka in Dhanmondi on Tuesday.
Centered on themes of memory, landscape, the environment, cultural heritage, biodiversity and the relationship between people and the land.
The exhibition showcased artworks by Banani Simlai, Dipro Bonik, Sithi Sinha, Lutfa Mahmuda, Md Faijul Islam, Md Hashem and Ruposhree Hajong before concluding its run.
Drawing on personal experiences and observations, the artists engage with contemporary environmental realities, ecological transformation and broader questions surrounding human existence. Against the backdrop of environmental degradation, biodiversity loss and the growing impacts of climate change, the exhibition encourages visitors to reflect on the relationship between nature, land and humanity.
Each artist offers a distinct perspective while sharing a common concern for environmental preservation and human responsibility. Banani Simlai examines the enduring connection between food, soil and human life, while Md Faijul Islam highlights the ecological consequences of acid rain and industrial pollution. Lutfa Mahmuda explores migration, identity and the search for belonging, whereas Khaidem Sithi Sinha celebrates the cultural heritage of the Manipuri community through nature-inspired traditional textiles.
Md Hashem presents works on the destruction of hills and topsoil, transforming environmental loss into reflections on memory, resilience and survival. Ruposhree Hajong draws on Hajong rituals and folklore to portray the spiritual relationship between indigenous communities and nature through textile-based installations. Dipro Bonik's works examine the evolving relationship between landscapes, ecology and human intervention, prompting viewers to reflect on the delicate balance between nature and contemporary life.
Collectively, the artworks invite audiences to rethink their relationship with the environment while envisioning possibilities for preservation, renewal and peaceful coexistence.
Curated by Kuntal Barai, the exhibition opened on July 18 at 6:00 pm. The inauguration was attended by renowned architect Shamsul Wares and eminent artist Moinuddin Khaled as distinguished guests.
The exhibition, being held at La Galerie, Alliance Française de Dhaka, Dhanmondi, ran from July 18 to July 28.