Alliance Française de Dhaka (AFD) is set to host the 5th solo art exhibition of young artist Sourav Chowdhury titled ‘Eternal Existence’.
The inaugural ceremony of the exhibition will be held on Friday, July 21, 2023 at 6 pm at La Galerie.
Eminent artist Prof Rafiqun Nabi will join the opening ceremony as its chief guest, while Chargé d'affaires of the French Embassy, Guillaume Audren De Kerdrel, and renowned art critic Moinuddin Khaled will also attend the event as special guests.
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Sourav Chowdhury has been exploring civilization and its existence since his childhood, and his quest began at a tender age when there were no earthly boundaries between imagination and reality. Chowdhury's imagination has led him to various forms, such as ancient Bengali folk characters — be it the majestic nightcrawler owls, age-old clay dolls in the name of ‘Tepa Putul’ or the ancient characters like the mighty tiger from the folk masterpiece ‘Gazir Pot’ (traditional scroll painting); and also in many historic timelines — be it the Mughal era or the recent timeline of the contemporary art scenario.
This exhibition is a part of his longtime ongoing series 'Eternal Existence,' which resonates with vivid imaginations and ancient symbolism.
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Chowdhury has travelled to various countries and explored traditional architectural installations, combining ancient formats with Bangladeshi folk themes and characters. He aims to transform human nature into something beautiful, jovial, and uplifting through his imaginary characterizations. He is experimenting with multiple mediums, including etching, sculpture, and installations, to express his inner artistic thoughts through various media, and also humorously depicts idioms and proverbs used in Bengal and occasionally makes connections between his work and the present world.
Currently working as the Artistic Director at Gallery Cosmos and Cosmos Atelier-71, Sourav Chowdhury has established himself as one of the important Bangladeshi artists through his years of tremendous artistic experience. As a young journeyman in the vast realm of the Bangladeshi art sphere, Sourav Chowdhury has participated in numerous national and international art exhibitions at home and beyond.
A total of 30 artworks will adorn the gallery space of the exhibition, most of which are in the media of etching and aquatint. Additionally, there are ceramic, metal, fiber sculptures, and installations.
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Artist Sourav Chowdhury was born in Rajshahi in 1987. Even before completing his BFA and MFA in Drawing and Painting from the University of Development Alternative (UODA), he embarked on his artistic journey and participated in many exhibitions, art camps and competitions at home and beyond.
His first solo exhibition titled 'Eternal Existence' was held at Alliance Française de Dhaka (AFD) in 2016, followed by his second and third exhibits titled 'Eternal Existence–Circle of Dynamism' held at Cherepovets Museum Association, Cherepovets, Russia, and Academy of Professional Development and Retraining of Educators, Moscow, Russia in 2017. His fourth solo exhibition titled 'Eternal Existence' was held at the Russian Ambassador's residence in Dhaka in the same year.
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For his brilliance in art, Sourav Chowdhury has received several awards including Bengal Foundation Award (Printmaking) at the 22nd National Art Exhibition 2017 and the 'Best Award' at the 20th Berger Young Painters' Art Competition 2015, to name a few.
The exhibition will be open to all till Tuesday, August 1, every day from 3 pm to 9 pm (closed on Sunday).