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Indepth Arts News:
"9th Asian Art Biennale Bangladesh 1999"
1999-07-31 until 1999-07-31
Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy
Dhaka, ,
BD Bangladesh
As the world prepares to enter a new millenium, and take up the
challenges that lie ahead, it is forced to look back and re-evaluate its
past achievements and failures. Despite the marvelous track record, of
this and other centuries, in shaping a global civilization we now call
modern, where each country has made its own contribution, the fruits of
that civilization unfortunately, have not reached all the nations in an
equitable measure. Science and technology have made life on earth richer
and happier, but they have not been harnessed properly to improve the
conditions of billions of poor people. Wars of unimaginable magnitude
have been fought; racial and communal strifes have destroyed many a
community, and hunger and poverty are daily companions of about a fourth
of the world's population.
However, the picture cannot be entirely bleak because there are some
clean, well-lighted areas in our civilization. One such area belongs to
art and literature, music and dance, and all the other creative
endeavours of human beings, which we collectively call culture.
Art and culture can span the seemingly unbridgeable gap that exists among
nations and communities. The language of art is universal; therefore it
is the property of the entire human race. When individual nations
practice and develop their art, it enriches the culture of the world.
It is from such an understanding that cultural dialogues and exchanges
take place. But for any dialogue or exchange to be meaningful, it should
first involve the neighbours, who share similar tastes, values and
aspirations. The range then can be extended, and distant neighbours can
be reached.
The Asian Art Biennale, began with such an aim, and in course of the last
18 years, it has become an event that has linked Asian and Pacific
nations in a bond of culture. The Biennale has become a festival that
has brought countries together in an attempt to assess the achievements
in their art. In place of isolation, the Biennale has fostered
togetherness, and in place of individual aims, it has included the
possibility of a shared understanding of cultures. The seminar that
accompanies the Biennale has opened up the possibilities of discussions
and deliberations on various aspects of that shared understanding. The
Biennales message has crossed the boundary of the continent: a couple of
African nations also took part in the 8th Biennale, proving our point
that art is the best link among nations and cultures.
The 9th Asian Biennale will be the last one before we enter a new century
and a new millenium. We hope that this Biennale will embody our
expectations of a world free from hunger and poverty--a brave new world
where the beauty of art can be felt and seen in everyday life.
All communications and dispatches should be addressed to the
Director, Department of Fine Arts, Bangladesh Shilpakala
Academy, Segunbagicha, Ramna, Dhaka-1000, Bangladesh.
Tel:PABX-880-2-9562801-4,9550602,Fax:880-2-9562853,E-mail:
bsacharu@vasdigital.com
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