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Asian art ... it's everywhere

1/ 8/2002

LEADING Bangladeshi Pakistani and Indian artists have been showcasing their work in North West galleries as part of the Commonwealth Games cultural programme this summer.

Oldham Gallery has been working with Professor S.Manzoorul Islam an art curator from Dhaka University to gather a collection of works by young emerging Bangladeshi artists.

Many use contemporary material and ideas and fuse them with traditional arts dating back centuries. There is a strong use of the Bangla script as illustration and tapestry, woodwork and mask making are also featured. Some of the work incorporate issue such as poverty and the role of women as well as political themes.

During the show Bangladeshi artists and Shishir Bhattacharjee has been in residence. He has illustrations regularly in the national press in Bangladesh. He is also an assistant professor at the Institute of Fine Arts at Dhaka University. His recent work has included a series of paintings which draw upon the iconography of popular Bengali film posters. While in Oldham Shishir created a number of new works as well as delivering talks and running workshops with young people.

At the newly refurbished and extended Manchester Art Gallery work by new Indian artists are on show. The aim of the exhibition is to show how art thrives in India's galleries, streets and the daily activities of life. The toys, trinkets and utensils for sale at the bazaar, the Bollywood style billboards found on every street and roadside photographs all feature.

Artists include those who are interested in folk crafts of India, rural and tribal artists and commercial artists who create billboard images or make toys. For many it is the first time their work has been shown in a gallery.

The Harris Museum and Art Gallery in Preston is holding exhibition of Pakistani art called 'Threads, Dreams, Desires'. Organised by Pakistani artist, writer and curator Salima Hashmi, it explores the influence of textiles on the work of eight artists from Pakistan. Each artists featured is fascinated by different aspects of fabric and textile pattern. They intend to create new patterns and design at the gallery.