The fifth edition of Dhaka Art Summit, titled Dhaka Art Summit: Seismic Movements, began two days ago on Friday, kicking off the biennale event that will conclude on February 15.
It is heartening to see the arts being represented in such a magnificent manner here in Bangladesh -- kudos to the organizers of the event, Nadia and Rajeev Samdani, for their efforts in showcasing art in the country through their Samdani Art Foundation.
In total, over 500 artists from 44 countries -- including 22 artist groups from Bangladesh -- are participating in the summit held in the capital, and is sure to enthrall art lovers of all ages.
Indeed, it is extremely encouraging to see the appreciation of art in our country -- such events are important not just for the general population to understand art and how it makes society better, but also for the overall image of the country at large.
To that end, Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy, along with the various government ministries and government bodies also deserve credit for supporting the efforts of the Samdani Art Foundation in order to make Dhaka Art Summit a bigger success with each edition.
As any nation marches towards progress and development, it is important for it to not just focus on the numbers of economic growth; showcasing that there is space for artistic freedom to be displayed is also an important indicator of the health of an economy.
Bangladesh has always had a rich history of the arts, and events such as Dhaka Art Summit show that the arts are alive and well in our nation.