Art enthusiasts from different parts of Dhaka flocked to Aloki on Friday as Art Dhaka, a five-day festival of art, opened to the public, bringing together a diverse range of artworks, exhibitions, interactive experiences and discussions on the country's evolving art scene.

Visitors from different age groups began arriving at the venue from Friday morning, exploring the fair's different sections across Aloki and showing keen interest in the range of artworks and presentations.

On the upper floor, they visited ‘The Still Point’, curated by Najmun Nahar Keya, while the ground floor featured ‘Narration. Thought. Chronicles.’, curated by Zihan Karim. The Pavilion, designed by architect Rashed Chowdhury, occupied the parking area, alongside the glasshouse section featuring artworks from the country's master artists, curated by Mustafa Zaman. Visitors moved between the spaces, viewing the displayed works with interest and making purchases.

Sales representatives at different pavilions said a few artworks were sold during Thursday's special preview, while sales picked up after the fair opened to the public on Friday, with visitors showing considerable interest in purchasing artworks.

The Print Pavilion, titled 'The Art of Access' and curated by Fareha Zeba, drew particular interest with its collection of prints and works on paper by artists from different generations.

One of the busiest attractions was the 'Make Plate, Take Print' section, where visitors of different ages gathered to create their own drawings, which were then coloured and printed with the assistance of volunteers. Participants could take their finished prints home as souvenirs, with the entire activity offered free of charge.

Alongside the exhibitions and interactive activities, the opening day's programme featured a discussion on the challenges facing artists and the infrastructure needed to support evolving art forms.

At a session titled 'Sustaining Artistic Practice: Building an Infrastructure for Evolving Art Forms', artists and art educators said the absence of studio spaces, storage facilities and patronage, coupled with inadequate state support, was pushing artists to compromise their work. They stressed the need for collective efforts to build a sustainable art ecosystem in Bangladesh.

Moderated by Katerina Don, the discussion featured artists Sumon Wahed, Wakilur Rahman and Faysal Zaman.

Sumon Wahed, a lecturer at Dhaka University's Department of Drawing and Painting, highlighted gaps in art education and the lack of studio spaces, storage facilities and financial support for young artists.

Wakilur Rahman, a painter, printmaker and sculptor, stressed the need for wider institutional and professional participation in building a sustainable art ecosystem.

Faysal Zaman, a visual artist and researcher, questioned the state's limited support for artists and called for broader dialogue that includes emerging practitioners, warning that their exclusion from existing discussions amounts to structural violence.

Following the discussion, two short films, 'Shabnam' by Reetu Sattar and 'Kheyal' by Munem Wasif, were screened at the Glasshouse.

The fair's Critical Discourse programme will continue with discussions throughout the event. On Saturday, November 7, ‘The State of the Print: Practice, Production and Possibility’ is scheduled for 3pm, followed by ‘The Right to Art: Reimagining the Cultural Life of a City’ at 5pm.

On Sunday, November 8, the discussion ‘The Art Market: Value, Patronage and the Culture of Collecting’ will take place at 5pm. Monday's programme, November 9, includes ‘The Unwritten Narrative: Art, Criticism and Cultural Memory’ at 5pm and ‘Beyond the Object: The Changing Nature of Art’ at 7pm.

The upcoming sessions will explore printmaking and its possibilities, the role of art in urban cultural life, the art market and collecting, cultural memory and art criticism, and the changing nature of artistic expression.

Founded by Durjoy Rahman, Nahar Khan, Fahd Sattar and Aumia Khundkar, Art Dhaka brings together their experience in art, culture, media and creative industries to establish a platform for artistic expression, cultural exchange and engagement with the wider creative community.

The fair will remain open to visitors daily from 10am to 10pm until November 10 at Aloki in Dhaka.