Gallery Cosmos, the prominent art wing of the Cosmos Foundation, hosted a special reception event for the reputed French cultural institution Alliance Française de Dhaka (AFD)'s outgoing Director, François Grosjean, and its new Director, François Chambraud on Tuesday night at the Cosmos Centre in the capital.

The event was joined by Gallery Cosmos Artistic Director Sourav Chowdhury, UNB Editor Mahfuzur Rahman, Artcon founder ARK Reepon,  Cultural Attaché of French Embassy in Bangladesh Baptiste Lebret, AFD Programme Officer Md Mamun Ar Rashid and members of the artistic community in the city.

The newly joined and the outgoing directors roamed across the entire Cosmos Centre and explored the special collection of exquisite artworks exclusively commissioned for the Gallery Cosmos and Cosmos Foundation, made by eminent and renowned artists from home and beyond.

Gallery Cosmos workshop on Cyanotype and Gum Bichromate concludes

They also had a newsroom tour of UNB and Dhaka Courier, greeted by UNB Editor Mahfuzur Rahman, Dhaka Courier Editor Shayan S Khan, and had cordial conversations with the members of the UNB newsroom.

Speaking to UNB about his experience of visiting Gallery Cosmos and Cosmos Centre, the newly joined AFD Director François Chambraud said: "I was really impressed to see the quality of the collection, which is extremely diverse. There is an amazing number of artists, both from Bangladesh and from many other countries as well; and the styles are extremely different as well."

"Whether it be in terms of technique or general impression, abstract, picturesque, the gallery got everything. The versatility of the collection, it's what amazed me the most; and also the different aspects of the building itself is really impressive. I feel extremely lucky that I have made my visit here on the second day of my four-year stint, and I am hopeful to further strengthen this relationship," Chambraud told UNB.

Highlighting the constant artistic engagement and partnership with Gallery Cosmos, UNB and Dhaka Courier over the years, AFD's outgoing Director François Grosjean thanked the Cosmos Foundation, expressing his heartfelt gratitude for the cooperation during his four-year tenure in Dhaka.

"The Gallery Cosmos has discovered most of the major artists of your country, of Bangladesh; and for me, it's a treasure. The gallery has discovered most of the major artists of this country, which is really impressive," Grosjean told UNB. 

"Bangladesh belongs to the Bangla tradition and the heritage here is so huge, and I was really impressed about the visual art and also the photography. I think there is something special in Dhaka dedicated to visual art, and I can tell you that because I travel a lot in different countries, and I can notice that something is different in Bangladesh. I have enjoyed my tenure here and I believe the future is even brighter," he added.

AFD Programme Officer Md Mamun Ar Rashid noted the uniqueness of the occasion. “This was the very first time two of AFD’s Directors visited any local art venue in Bangladesh, and that showcases the cordial relationship we have with Gallery Cosmos,” he said.

Established in 1959, Alliance Française de Dhaka has been fostering cultural exploration and intercultural dialogue in Bangladesh while promoting French language and culture. Through its French courses, cultural initiatives and Franco-Bangladeshi cooperation, AFD continues to play a key role in strengthening ties between the two countries.