Published: 08:54 AM, 30 April 2026
4th exhibition of Bengali Buddhist art opens at Alliance Française de Dhaka
The fourth edition of BUDDHA OF BENGAL: Our Sacred Community, a landmark nationwide exhibition celebrating Bengali Buddhist art and spirituality started on Tuesday at 6:00 PM at La Galerie, Alliance Française de Dhaka. The exhibition will remain open to visitors until Wednesday, May 6, 2026.
Marking a unique initiative in South Asia, BUDDHA OF BENGAL continues its mission to revive and promote traditional Bengali sacred art by bringing together both established and emerging artists. The exhibition coincides with the auspicious occasion of Buddhopurnima and pays homage to the teachings and legacy of Sri Buddha through artistic expression rooted in indigenous traditions.
This year’s theme centers on the Third Jewel of Buddhadharma - Sangha, or Sacred Community. Through 91 artworks, the exhibition explores ideas of spiritual fellowship, universal compassion, shared human experience, and collective awakening. The works reflect a deep engagement with themes such as communal harmony, contemplation, kinship with nature, and humanity’s interconnectedness.
A total of 80 Bangladeshi artists have contributed to this edition, presenting a diverse range of traditional mediums including watercolor, gouache, tempera, sculpture, miniature, batik, appliqué, woodcut, nakshikantha, ceramics, printmaking, and metalwork. The exhibition also marks a significant expansion in participation, with students and faculty from 15 universities and institutions nationwide, including University of Dhaka, University of Rajshahi, University of Chittagong, Jahangirnagar University, and Khulna University, among others. Participants also include artists from the Bulbul Academy of Fine Arts and international contributors from Yunnan Art University, China.
In a distinctive approach that extends beyond conventional exhibitions, BUDDHA OF BENGAL will host a dynamic program of daily activities, including Bengali classical and folk music performances, watercolor-wash technique workshops, guided artist tours, sacred art presentations, and discussions on Buddhist philosophy. These events aim to foster dialogue, learning, and deeper engagement with the spiritual and cultural dimensions of the artworks.
The exhibition will conclude with the inauguration of its first-ever Best Artists Awards ceremony, recognizing outstanding contributions across categories. Awards include BDT 80,000 for first prize, BDT 58,000 for second prize, BDT 35,000 for third prize, and BDT 35,000 for best student artwork.
Organized by the Oriental Painting Study Group and Learning Design Studio, in partnership with Alliance Française de Dhaka, BUDDHA OF BENGAL continues to build a vital platform for artistic and spiritual exchange. Through its rich and contemplative body of work, the exhibition invites audiences to reconnect with the enduring values of empathy, compassion, and collective harmony embodied in the concept of Sangha.
Dr. Malay Bala, Professor of the Department of Oriental Art at the University of Dhaka and Convener and Curator of the Oriental Painting Practice Association, said: “The teachings of the Buddha, which impart compassion, loving-kindness, and wisdom, find a visible expression in this exhibition.”
Curator of this exhibition Mikhail Idris said that “Sri Buddha and Buddhist Art remind us that the Sangha of all sentient beings remains the spiritual antidote against humanity’s spiritual crisis of dukkha within religious communalism, gender and socio-economic deprivations and earthly destruction.”
>>AA Emran Emon
