‘A Shared Condition’: Exploring collective trauma through art

Alliance Française de Dhaka and ARTCON are currently hosting “A Shared Condition”, the first solo exhibition by interdisciplinary artist Mubtasim Alvee, who is pursuing his MFA at the Department of Fine Arts, University of Dhaka. The exhibition explores intrapersonal physical and mental states, connections, and memories that contribute to a collective identity shaped by shared social and political histories.

Centuries of colonisation have profoundly shaped the psyche of the subcontinent. Conditions such as famine, economic collapse, wars, and the loss of lives and livelihoods over nearly 200 years have left lasting marks on both minds and bodies. According to the exhibition, this collective trauma has continued to pass through generations, extending even to millennials and Gen Z. However, these generations have also developed greater self-awareness, enabling them to recognise their internalised conditions and trace their origins as a means of coping.

As Alvee explains, "When a whole nation suffers from trauma-induced disorders, there is no single victim, there is only a shared condition that connects the people and their psyche”.

To express this ongoing thread of trauma and response, Alvee employs the concept of “Pareidolia”, described as the human tendency to perceive figures and meanings within abstraction. His visual language takes shape through abstract forms, chaotic lines, and irregular splashes of colour that come together to portray inner struggles — at times resembling insanity, at others despair.

The artist also creates dramatic visual effects through contrasts between light and dark tones, while metallic colours add further intensity to the works. Alongside the paintings, animations provide visitors with an interactive experience that expands the exhibition’s emotional and conceptual layers.

Overall, the exhibition serves as a reflection on collective mental health and highlights the importance of art as a therapeutic medium. Curated by Mustafa Zaman, “A Shared Condition” will run at Alliance Française de Dhaka from May 8 to May 16, 2026.