Organized by Department of Fine Arts of Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy, the exhibition will feature a total of 322 artworks by 310 artists.
Political Affairs Adviser to the Prime Minister H T Imam will inaugurate the exhibition as the chief guest, while ex-finance minister Abul Maal Abdul Muhith, the current state minister for cultural affairs K M Khalid, cultural affairs secretary Dr. Abu Hena Mostofa Kamal and artist Monirul Islam will attend the inaugural ceremony as special guests. Director General of Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy Liaquat Ali Lucky will chair the event.
A press conference was held at the conference hall of National Theatre’s conference hall on Sunday, in which Liaquat Ali briefed the journalists about the program and its schedule. Secretary of the academy Badrul Alam Bhuiyan and other officers were also present at the presser.
The 23rd edition of this exhibition will feature 322 artworks by 310 artists, who were selected from a total number of 850 applicants. During the 20-day exhibition, a total of 159 paintings, 45 sculptures, 50 print illustrations, 17 craftworks, 8 pottery-crafts, 37 architectural and video arts and 7 performance art pieces will be on display.
Total 8 prizes will be awarded to this year’s participants. The prizes include a best prize worth Tk 200,000 (2 lacs)and four departmental prizes for artwork, sculpture, print illustration and new media worth Tk 100,000 (1 lac) each. Also there will be three special prizes- Bengal Foundation award (Tk 100,000), Dipa Haque award (Tk 20, 000) and Artist Kazi Anwar Hossain Award (Tk 50, 000).
The primary selection committee comprised with notable artists including Nasrin Begum, Mostafizul Haque, Sheikh Sadi Bhuiyan, Dr. Md Iqbal and Anisuzzaman. The final selection committee for selecting the best artworks featured artist Abdus Shakur Shah, Architect Shamsul Wares, Artist Ranajit Das, artist Dr. Farida Jaman and artist Mohammad Yunus.
The biennale was first organized by BSA back in 1975. The 23rd edition will continue from 1st to 21st July, every day from 11 pm to 8 pm and 3 pm to 8 pm on Friday.