‘Beyond Boundaries’ brings 25 artists together to celebrate Bangladesh’s art
The boundaries of artistic expression have always remained fluid, with artists moving between mediums, disciplines and ideas to find new ways of seeing and interpreting the world. In Bangladesh, this diversity has helped shape a rich and continually evolving visual arts tradition.
“Beyond Boundaries: One Continuing Legacy”, a group exhibition at Gallery Hamiduzzaman, brings together 25 artists to explore this diversity of expression, spanning generations, artistic disciplines and individual perspectives.
Running from October 1 to November 1, the exhibition is being held at House 2, Lake View, Road 104, Gulshan 2, Dhaka, and is powered by VIP Motors. The collection brings together established names in Bangladesh’s art scene alongside artists whose practices continue to expand the possibilities of contemporary visual expression.
One of the exhibition’s prominent participants is Bipasha Hayat, widely recognised for her celebrated career as a television and film actress. A graduate of the Faculty of Fine Arts at the University of Dhaka, Hayat has increasingly devoted herself to painting and mixed-media experimentation. Her work explores memory, identity and the subconscious through layered surfaces and unconventional materials, including cardboard, muslin and wire mesh. Her artistic achievements include an honourable mention at the 17th Asian Art Biennale Bangladesh in 2016 and a fellowship from the Saltonstall Foundation for the Arts in 2023.
Rafiqun Nabi brings another distinctive perspective to the exhibition. A pioneering painter, printmaker and cartoonist, he is best known for creating “Tokai”. Through humour and incisive social commentary, Nabi has used the character to illuminate poverty, inequality and the everyday struggles of ordinary people.
Cultural identity and lived experience emerge in different forms through the practices of Kanak Chanpa Chakma and Farida Zaman. Chakma’s paintings draw on indigenous heritage, women’s lives and the traditions of the Chittagong Hill Tracts, while Zaman’s work frequently evokes rural Bangladesh, its landscapes and folk culture.
The exhibition’s range extends further through Rokeya Sultana, whose printmaking and paintings explore femininity and the human condition, and Monirul Islam, the internationally acclaimed Bangladeshi-Spanish artist recognised for his experimental etching techniques, delicate lines and intricate compositions. Sculptor Ivy Zaman adds a modernist dimension through her exploration of geometry, mass and spatial relationships.
The wider roster includes Kuhu Plamondon, Shameem Subrana, Afroza Jamil Konka, Mustafa Monwar, Abdus Satter, Abdus Shakoor Shah, Abdul Mannan, Biren Shome, Ranjit Das, Anisuzzaman Anis, Saiful Islam, Kazi Sahid, Shahanor Mamun, Kamal Uddin, Kaoser Hassan Togor, Sowkotuz Zaman and Dipro Bonik, alongside Hamiduzzaman Khan, whose legacy continues through the gallery bearing his name.
By bringing these artists together, “Beyond Boundaries” invites audiences to consider how individual experiences and changing artistic approaches contribute to Bangladesh’s evolving art history. The month-long exhibition offers Dhaka’s art enthusiasts an opportunity to engage with the many voices that continue to shape the country’s artistic legacy.
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