Chattogram is witnessing the final day of “I : Under Construction”, a contemporary group art exhibition organised to mark the Diamond Jubilee (60 years) of Alliance Française Chattogram. The four-day event has provided a vibrant platform for exploring identity, memory, and contemporary artistic expression in Bangladesh.
Inaugurated on June 30 by Her Excellency Mrs. Marie Masdupuy, the French Ambassador to Bangladesh, the exhibition was organised by Bisubo Art Organization with support from Alliance Française Chittagong. Curated by Sharad Das and co-curated by Fahad Rahman, the show brought together 14 contemporary artists from across the country.
The exhibition’s concept centred on identity as a dynamic, collective construction shaped by cultural memory, social structures, and personal narratives. Inspired by thinkers such as Michel Foucault, Judith Butler, and Stuart Hall, the show challenged conventional ideas of a fixed self.
Participating artists included Abu Naser Robi, Farzana Ahmed Urmi, Hlubaishu Chowdhuri, Jaytu Chakma, Nowrin Ansari, Palash Bhattacharjee, Sadatuddin Ahmed Amil, Sarker Protick, Shimul Saha, Sohrab Jahan, Suborna Morsheada, Tasadduk Hossain Dulu, Zahed Ali Chowdhury Yubraj, and Zihan Karim. Their works explored themes of memory, trauma, cultural identity, and the constant negotiation of selfhood through painting, mixed media, and experimental contemporary approaches.
The exhibition attracted enthusiastic responses from visitors, particularly young artists and students. As “I : Under Construction” concludes today, it leaves behind a rich conversation on the shifting, collective nature of identity in contemporary times, marking a meaningful milestone for Alliance Française Chattogram’s Diamond Jubilee celebration.
