Group exhibition - Unlearning the Book – to begin at AFD Tuesday

An exhibit of the group exhibition Unlearning the Book that will begin at AFD Tuesday,

Alliance Française, Dhaka cordially invites you to the opening of the group exhibition titled “Unlearning the Book”, as an outcome of the experimental project to rethink the book exploring textile and material storytelling by 27 multidisciplinary Bangladeshi artists. The exhibition is curated by Fareha Zeba and Sadya Mizan.

The inaugural ceremony of the exhibition will be held on Sunday, 10 March at 5:00 PM at Alliance Française de Dhaka, Gulshan, Dhaka. The opening will be followed by an iftar and dialogical book session with participating artists and guest speakers. During the opening, visitors will not only have the opportunity to explore the experimental books but can also sign up on the spot for an engaging tarot reading session.

The exhibition will be inaugurated in the presence of Mr. Frédéric Inza, Chargé d’Affaires at the Embassy of France in Dhaka, M. François Chambraud, Director of Alliance Française de Dhaka, and Zareen Mahmud Hosein, Founder and Executive Director of HerStory Foundation, and other distinguished guests.

‘Unlearning the Book’ is a multidisciplinary exhibition that reimagines the conventional idea of the book beyond its familiar conception of paper-based form. The project emerged from an intensive peer-learning workshop and brainstorming process where artists collectively questioned the linear structure of books and revisited ancient material histories of books from palm-leaf manuscripts and scroll traditions to textile archives and oral/performative storytelling.

Through collective imagination and curatorial guidance, textile became a central material language in reconstructing the idea of the book in this exhibition. The participating artists present experimental book forms that carry personal narratives, cultural memories, heritage memories and reflections on social realities through tactile, material, and spatial storytelling.

Rather than a traditional exhibition display, the space is transformed into a storytelling room where visitors can come and sit, explore unconventional books, spend time with them, and engage with stories embedded in textile and material trialing. The venue also has spaces and spots where the audience can share their stories and memories, learn or unlearn through our workshops and sharing sessions regularly.

The venue will host a series of interactive workshops on upcycling ideas, interactive painting, tarot reading sessions, and story reading events, inviting audiences to participate in the ongoing act of rethinking and unlearning the conventional book.

Participating Artists:

Abrar Shadman, Ahsana Angona, Alia Kamal, Esha Ahmed, Faiza Fairooz, Farah Naz Moon, Farhana Ferdausi, Fouzia Mahin Chowdhury, Hridita Anisha, Jayatu Chakma, Jinnatun Jannat, Kazmin Samia, Lekh Nesa Khatun, Mahadi Masud, Mahmuda Siddika, Marzia Bentee Rahman, Nazm Anwr, Nazmul Hossen Nayon, Nodi Judith Gomes, Nur A Alaa Siddique, Papia Sarwar, Rafia Mahjabeen, Rituparna Saha, Rokeya Sultana, Tahmina Hafiz Lisa, Toufikul Islam, Venessa Kaiser.

Opening day segments after inauguration and iftar:

Dialogical book session at 6:40pm by Abrar Shadman (participating artists) and Mahenaz Chowdhury (guest speaker).

Tarot reading session at 7PM-9PM by Arjeetaa Dutta Ichchha.

The exhibition will remain open to all until 20th March 2026.

Visiting Hours: Monday to Saturday from 11 AM to 8:00 PM. – Press release