The session on “Cross-border Art Histories - Bangladesh and Pakistan” was all about the exchange of art between these two countries before and after their partition. Focusing on the barters between the two countries, the session was moderated by Salima Hashmi, a Pakistani visual artist, writer, and activist who gave a brief background history on how art was patronised at the time. She elaborated about the contribution of Zainul Abedin, Abdur Rahman Chughtai, Novera Ahmed and many other artists in that period as well.
Art lovers flock to the third edition of Dhaka Art Summit on Friday Photo- Syed Zakir Hossain
Farooq Sohban, chairman of the Board, Samdani Art Foundation and Bangladeshi art patron, showed his support towards to attempt to revive the cultural interaction across the two countries. Another panelist, Ifitkhar Dadi, associate professor, History of Art and Visual Studies of Cornell Univeristy, also arrived at the same opinion on the importance of exchange. “People learn more from others,” he narrated as he spoke on his aspires to see more Pakistani work exhibiting in Bangladesh.
Ayesha Sultana and Shimul Saha, student from Lahore’s Beaconhouse University, shared their journey of learning within a diversified atmosphere. Sultana considered diversity as an essential part and her experience became more vivacious because of the interaction with teachers, students from different cultures and others. Deeming the education journey at Beaconhouse University as a bit different, Saha shed light on the history of 1971 which remained unknown in current generation.
