BSS, Dhaka :
The largest fine art festival in Asia titled “The 16th Asian Art Biennale Bangladesh 2014” begun in the capital from Monday.
Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy (BSA) organised the exhibition at its National Art Gallery and it will continue till end of this month.
Finance Minister Abul Mal Abdul Muhith inaugurated the exhibition as the chief guest while Cultural Affairs Minister Asaduzzaman Noor was present as special guest at the function.
Presided over by cultural affairs secretary Dr Ranajit kumar Biswas, the inaugural session was also addressed, among others, by Director General of Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy Liakat Ali Lucky and Jury Board member noted artist Hashem Khan.
At the beginning of the function, the finance minister inaugurated a commemorating stamp to mark the event. Director General of the Postal Department also was present.
The month-long exhibition will be open for all from 11am to 8pm every day except Fridays (from 3 to 8pm) till December 31.
This year, 518 artists submitted their artworks from where 228 artworks by 209 artists from 30 countries will be put on display.
Eminent artists-Samarjir Roy Choudhury, Monirul Islam, Syed Abdullah Khalid, Mansur Ul Karim and Dr Farida Zaman selected the artworks for the biennale.
Three grand prizes-worth about Taka two lakh each, along with six honourable mention awards worth about Taka 50,000 each, will be conferred to the deserving artists.
Some 55 art critics and artists will take part in the art biennale events, including performance art and seminar.
