Gallery Cosmos, the acclaimed artistic wing and printmaking studio of the Cosmos Foundation, has launched a three-day workshop titled ‘Alchemy of Light’, focusing on the historical Cyanotype and Gum Bichromate techniques. The workshop is being held at Cosmos Atelier71, Cosmos Centre, Malibagh, Dhaka, from June 27 to 29, between 10 am and 5 pm daily.

Inaugurated on Friday, June 27 at 10 am, the workshop is being led by acclaimed artist and educator Juton Chandra Roy, Lecturer at the Department of Printmaking, Faculty of Fine Art, Dhaka University. It brings together 10 Bangladeshi artists from diverse backgrounds for an immersive experience in alternative photographic printmaking, blending Cyanotype and Gum Bichromate Techniques.

The opening ceremony was graced by Gallery Cosmos Director Tehmina Enayet, along with eminent artist and Dhaka University Faculty of Fine Art Professor Dr Anisuzzaman, DU Faculty of Fine Art Assistant Professor at the Department of Drawing and Painting and Brihatta Art Foundation Co-founder Bishwajit Goswami, Gallery Cosmos Artistic Director Sourav Chowdhury, and the participating artists: Rashed Sukhon, Naznine Akter, Alia Kamal, Farhana Islam, Sheikh Nahid Hasan, Sharmin Rahman Khan, Sumaita Afrin Shupty, Arup Mandal, Shuvra Talukder, and Bristy Pathan.

Speaking at the event, Tehmina Enayet reaffirmed the gallery's commitment to multidisciplinary experimentation. “Gallery Cosmos and Cosmos Atelier 71 consistently organize unique and diverse initiatives. This time, we are excited to introduce this unique workshop on Cyanotype and Gum Bichromate—unconventional mediums that allow for vibrant, playful expressions. We believe audiences will enjoy these creations as much as the participants enjoyed making them,” she said, while acknowledging the support of the instructors and fondly remembered the late eminent artist Kalidas Karmakar, under whose vision the gallery was founded.

Professor Anisuzzaman praised the workshop’s artistic merit and expressed his longstanding association with the gallery. “My relationship with Gallery Cosmos goes back many years, and I’ve had the pleasure of conducting two workshops here. Juton, the instructor, is my direct student - and I’ve witnessed his dedication to exploring new media, enriched further by his studies at Santiniketan. The works being produced here are a testament to his growth and vision,” he said.

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Highlighting the novelty of the medium, Bishwajit Goswami said, “This is a very engaging workshop where two techniques are being integrated in creative ways. While Cyanotype is somewhat familiar in our local context, Gum Bichromate remains relatively unknown. As Juton is both a printmaker and educator, and trained in these methods at Santiniketan where they are taken very seriously, this workshop offers an excellent opportunity to learn something new.

While we usually focus on image creation, today we are delving into the process behind it—which is equally vital and rewarding. It’s encouraging to see young, emerging artists enjoying this collaborative experience. Gallery Cosmos has always supported such distinctive initiatives, with a strong setup and facilities.”

Workshop facilitator Juton Chandra Roy elaborated on the vision behind the workshop, stating: “This workshop stems from the ongoing academic dialogue around alternative art practices, which are crucial. While traditional printmaking often depends on lab-based techniques using specialized tools and chemicals, access to such setups for emerging artists becomes limited after their graduation, and this pushes many artists to explore alternative media.”

He added, “When I studied Cyanotype in 2014 at Santiniketan, there was already a movement to introduce it in Bangladesh. The support from Gallery Cosmos outside of the academic realm is invaluable—such collaborative learning is truly unmatched. Their consistent dedication to multidisciplinary work is rare in our country. What sets Gallery Cosmos apart is that the people behind it are themselves artists and creatively engaged; they understand the language of art. Instead of prioritizing commercial gains, their focus remains on nurturing both the artist and the art.”

“This is how new works, new art forms, and new artists are born. I sincerely thank Gallery Cosmos and Cosmos Atelier 71 for initiating this important workshop,” Juton Chandra Roy said.

Cyanotype and Gum Bichromate, both 19th-century processes, are known for their distinctive aesthetics. Cyanotype, invented by Sir John Herschel, is recognized for its deep blue tones and was popularized by Anna Atkins. Gum Bichromate combines pigment, gum arabic, and dichromate for painterly, layered images.

Juton Chandra Roy is a Bangladeshi printmaker whose practice blends traditional and experimental techniques such as intaglio, lithography, and cyanotype. A graduate of Dhaka University and Visva-Bharati University’s Kala-Bhavana, his work has been exhibited in Bangladesh, India, Malaysia, Korea, and Ukraine.

A recipient of awards including the ICCR Scholarship and Shilpi Rashed Smriti Award, Juton has participated in international residencies and remains actively involved in mentoring young artists and advancing South Asian printmaking.