A lovely drizzly holiday day... just perfect for a drive out to the Institute of Fine Arts after a couple of drinks and a spicy hot South Indian lunch!
 

...and then to enjoy the artwork displayed at one of the 3 venues [Shilpakala Academy] of the 13th Asian Arts Biennial being held at Dhaka. The exhibition being of extra special attraction because works of several friends displayed here as well.

...have yet to visit the other 2 venues of the exhibition, the Osmani Memorial Auditorium and the National Museum.

Shall do, soon!

Artist friend Rokeya Sultana [she is a Professor at the Institute of Fine Arts as well] asked me to photograph the 7 day Printmaking Workshop proceedings at the Institute of Fine Arts Dhaka University  organized by The Bengal Foundation during 18th to 24th May 2008.  Visiting Professors Nirmalendu Das and Pinaki Barua of Vishwa Bharati headed the the Zinc-plate Etching and Lithography workshop.  Final prints from the artists who participated will be on display during a 2 day exhibition [«In Search Of Beautiful Impressions«] at the Bengal Gallery of Fine Arts on 3rd and 4th June 2008 - the inaugural ceremony will be held on 2nd June evening.  Photographing the artists at work was very interesting for me, and I sort of got a bit side-tracked and photographed more «faces» than I did of the actual processes! After going through the entire lot of photos, there were enough images to present a series of a dozen each for the Etching and Litho processes. Lucky! Some of these photos will also be on display at the exhibition as a sort of «introduction to printmaking» : 

I've never before displayed any photographs at an exhibition or to the public, so this is an exciting experience - though mixed with some apprehension as well! Previous related posts at my blog are here, here and here. A must-read is Ujwala's blog on her participation and experience.

At the Print-making Workshop - Insitute of Fine Arts, Dhaka Univ
A few assorted images ...

   
   
  
  
Click the thuumbnails for a full photo.

And it rained, a sudden storm that brought the temperature down. Every one went out into the outdoor corridors to enjoy the rain and cool breeze..and roasted peanuts [with spicy hot & salty 'masala'] in little newspaper packets that Ujwala bought from a vendor.

Here is a pulled-shot of a wall, an Ixora bush and the rain - just for fun! And another.