Paal: Moving thru Memories, Myths; Motion explores Buriganga’s heritage

Paal and Gangaburi show began at the Brihatta Art Space at Hazaribagh, Dhaka

Dhaka, Apr 26 - 'Paal: Moving through Memories, Myths, and Motion', a unique exhibition reflecting the vibrant journey of the ‘Gangaburi’ River Heritage Project, began on Friday at Brihatta Art Space in Hazaribagh in the capital.

Developed under the artistic direction of acclaimed artist Bishwajit Goswami, the exhibition features three large sails symbolising Land (Bhumi), Water (Jol), and Air (Paban). Created through collaborations with artists and communities centring the Buriganga River, the sails incorporate natural materials, folk poetry, and traditional crafts, presenting a powerful metaphor for the interconnectedness of people, nature, and time.

The inaugural ceremony on Friday was joined by eminent personalities, including Ekushey Padak-winning art maestro Farida Zaman; Goethe-Institut Bangladesh Country Director Frank Werner; urban traditional artists and rickshaw painters Md Hanif Pappu and Syed Ahmed Hossain; BTV journalist and researcher Imran Uz-Zaman; Brihatta Art Foundation co-founder Nusrat Mahmud; officials from various embassies; students from different institutions and art enthusiasts from different walks of life.

Speaking at the event, Goethe-Institut Bangladesh Country Director Frank Werner said, "The project belongs to the community, the artists, and the audience. Under the umbrella of EUNIC (European Union National Institutes of Culture), we supported the initiative, but this is truly your project; and by putting the exhibition on a boat and bringing it to the community, the project changed the conventional concept of accessing culture."

He further mentioned that the book accompanying the project is not merely a catalogue but a piece of art-based research that documents the entire journey.

Artistic director Bishwajit Goswami explained, "Art is fluid, like a river. If you try to stop a river, you destroy its nature. Through this work, we are exploring how collaboration and collective efforts can foster learning and growth. This is just the beginning—the project and its ideas will continue to evolve."

Art maestro Farida Zaman praised the artistic collaboration and officially inaugurated the exhibition.

The Gangaburi project’s selected artists for 2023 included Ahmed Rasel, Aminul Islam Ashik, Anannya Mehpar Azad, Kazi Sydul Karim Tuso, Md Khairul Alam (Shada), Nur A Alaa Siddique, and Shamim Ahmed Chowdhury.

The 2024 cohort features Bilas Mandal, Dinar Sultana Putul and Mojahid Musa (joint grantees), Elodie Guignard, Moinuddin Moni, and Rupakalpa Chowdhury.

Alongside Bishwajit Goswami, performance artists Farah Naz Moon, Yasmin Jahan Nupur, and Joydeb Roaja, as well as urban traditional artists Md Hanif Pappu and Syed Ahmed Hossain, played key roles in the project.

Curated by Shehzad Chowdhury and directed by Bishwajit Goswami, the ‘Gangaburi’ project, named after Kafil Ahmed’s song 'Gangaburi', was launched in 2023 by Brihatta Art Foundation, supported by EUNIC Bangladesh members including Alliance Française de Dhaka, British Council, Goethe-Institut Bangladesh, the EU Delegation to Bangladesh, and several European embassies..

The second phase of the project was initiated in 2024 with support from British Council Bangladesh, alongside the publication of an art-based research book funded by Goethe-Institut Bangladesh.

Earlier, on Thursday night, the 'Gangaburi' publication was launched at Goethe-Institut Bangladesh’s newly reopened venue in Dhanmondi.

At the book launch, speakers including Bishwajit Goswami, architect Kazi Khaleed Ashraf, and Frank Werner, highlighted the project’s impact on connecting communities along the Buriganga River. The session was moderated by Brihatta Art Foundation co-founder Nusrat Mahmud.

The book presents an archival documentation of EUNIC Bangladesh’s work with Bangladesh’s river heritage and offers a deeper insight into the artistic journey captured in the ongoing exhibition.

Running until May 2, the exhibition is open daily from 2 pm to 6:30 pm. - UNB