Folk art exhibition ‘Dharon’ underway at Shilpakala Academy

The exhibition “Dharon”, currently underway at the Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy, reexamines folk art in Bangladesh, positioning it as a dynamic and evolving part of contemporary visual practice.

Curated by Jinnatun Jannat, with Ayesha Nargis as co-curator, the exhibition runs from April 13 to 30. It is open daily from 11:00am to 8:00pm, with Friday hours from 3:00pm to 8:00pm.

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The exhibition brings together a range of works that draw from folk and vernacular artistic traditions, highlighting their continued relevance in present-day contexts.

Folk practices have long existed alongside what is commonly defined as modern art, often without receiving equal recognition or critical attention. Rooted in lived experience, community memory, and local knowledge systems, these traditions form a distinct visual and cultural language.

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In Bangladesh, such practices continue to shape visual culture in subtle yet significant ways. However, they are often confined within categories of craft or heritage rather than being engaged with as active artistic expressions. “Dharon” seeks to challenge that framing.

The participating artistes approach folk elements not merely as aesthetic references but as carriers of meaning—embedded with stories of identity, labour, ritual, and belief. Through reinterpretation and transformation, the works create a dialogue between the rural and the urban, as well as the past and the present.

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The exhibition also reflects on the role of artistes and curators in shaping cultural memory, raising questions about how heritage is preserved and reimagined in a rapidly changing world.