Sheikh Arif Bulbon :
Alliance Française de Dhaka (AFD), Goethe-Institut Bangladesh and Urban Study Group jointly presented
a two-day event titled ‘Illuminated Puran Dhaka-Heritage in Limelight’ to highlight the endangered cultural heritage
of Old Dhaka through video and light installations by French artist Christophe Bruyas and German artist Philipp Geist.
The opening ceremony of the exceptional event took place at 6:00pm at the Devi Nibash (Next to Northbrook Hall,
Old Dhaka) on October 16.
Dr Anisuzzaman, Emeritus Professor of University of Dhaka was present as the chief guest, while Sophie Aubert, Ambassador of France in Bangladesh and Dr Thomas Prinz, Ambassador of the Federal Republic of Germany
to Bangladesh, were also present as the guests of honour
in the inaugural ceremony.
In addition to the vespertine illumination, a cultural
programme, including dance and music presentations as well as an exhibition showcasing the rich cultural heritage
of Old Dhaka, which was also an attraction for the audience.
The project aims at raising awareness of the cultural value
of the heritage buildings in the country. Ideally, it was
a first step towards initiating yearly Heritage Open Days
in Bangladesh in the future.
The venue of the event, Devi Nibash, is a picturesque
riverfront palace right next to Sadarghat Terminal, built
in the 19th century by a businessman and Zamindar.
The two-storey building – a remnant of the once glorious waterfront of Dhaka – was built in the Neo Classical style. Unlike neighboring Ahsan Manzil (‘Pink Palace’), the
deserted complex in the midst of a huge palm tree garden
is hardly known to the public.
The two artists responsible for the video and light
installation, Christophe Bruyas and Philipp Geist,
have worked in many countries around the world;
it is however their first visit to Bangladesh.
Christophe Bruyas is a French light designer and theatre director, who, among others, participated in the light festival Festival Lumière in Lyon (France). Berlin based artist Philipp Geist works internationally as an artist with the mediums of video-/ light installation as well as photography and painting.
The event was partly funded by the Franco-German Fund for projects in third party countries. Set up in 2003 to mark the 40th anniversary of the Treaty of the Elysée, the fund is a potent symbol of the friendship between France and Germany.
It was set up as witness to cultural cooperation between France and Germany in third party countries by means of
concrete cooperation projects in the fields of the visual arts, theatre, cinema, broadcasting, sports, intellectual debate,
literature and promoting the learning of French and German. The event was being organised in cooperation
with Dhaka South City Cooperation and with the support
of the Ministry of Cultural Affairs. n
Alliance Française de Dhaka (AFD), Goethe-Institut Bangladesh and Urban Study Group jointly presented
a two-day event titled ‘Illuminated Puran Dhaka-Heritage in Limelight’ to highlight the endangered cultural heritage
of Old Dhaka through video and light installations by French artist Christophe Bruyas and German artist Philipp Geist.
The opening ceremony of the exceptional event took place at 6:00pm at the Devi Nibash (Next to Northbrook Hall,
Old Dhaka) on October 16.
Dr Anisuzzaman, Emeritus Professor of University of Dhaka was present as the chief guest, while Sophie Aubert, Ambassador of France in Bangladesh and Dr Thomas Prinz, Ambassador of the Federal Republic of Germany
to Bangladesh, were also present as the guests of honour
in the inaugural ceremony.
In addition to the vespertine illumination, a cultural
programme, including dance and music presentations as well as an exhibition showcasing the rich cultural heritage
of Old Dhaka, which was also an attraction for the audience.
The project aims at raising awareness of the cultural value
of the heritage buildings in the country. Ideally, it was
a first step towards initiating yearly Heritage Open Days
in Bangladesh in the future.
The venue of the event, Devi Nibash, is a picturesque
riverfront palace right next to Sadarghat Terminal, built
in the 19th century by a businessman and Zamindar.
The two-storey building – a remnant of the once glorious waterfront of Dhaka – was built in the Neo Classical style. Unlike neighboring Ahsan Manzil (‘Pink Palace’), the
deserted complex in the midst of a huge palm tree garden
is hardly known to the public.
The two artists responsible for the video and light
installation, Christophe Bruyas and Philipp Geist,
have worked in many countries around the world;
it is however their first visit to Bangladesh.
Christophe Bruyas is a French light designer and theatre director, who, among others, participated in the light festival Festival Lumière in Lyon (France). Berlin based artist Philipp Geist works internationally as an artist with the mediums of video-/ light installation as well as photography and painting.
The event was partly funded by the Franco-German Fund for projects in third party countries. Set up in 2003 to mark the 40th anniversary of the Treaty of the Elysée, the fund is a potent symbol of the friendship between France and Germany.
It was set up as witness to cultural cooperation between France and Germany in third party countries by means of
concrete cooperation projects in the fields of the visual arts, theatre, cinema, broadcasting, sports, intellectual debate,
literature and promoting the learning of French and German. The event was being organised in cooperation
with Dhaka South City Cooperation and with the support
of the Ministry of Cultural Affairs. n
