Alliance Française de Dhaka (AFD), in collaboration with ARTCON, is set to host the inaugural ceremony of the first solo exhibition and collective by artist Mubtasim Alvee, titled A Shared Condition, curated by Mustafa Zaman.
The opening will take place on May 8 at 6:00 PM at the Dhanmondi premises of Alliance Française de Dhaka. The exhibition will run from May 8 to 16 and will remain open daily from 2:00 PM to 8:00 PM.
A Shared Condition explores the space between the personal and the collective, questioning the notion that psychological and emotional states are solely individual experiences. Drawing on the concept of Pareidolia, Alvee’s works allow forms and figures to emerge organically from abstraction, reflecting the layered nature of memory, emotion and identity.
The exhibition situates the psyche within a broader social framework, shaped by historical, political and cultural forces. Within a post-colonial context, the artworks examine how inherited structures and collective histories continue to influence internal landscapes. Figures in the paintings appear fragmented and fluid, mirroring identities in constant flux.
Though grounded in painting, the exhibition expands into a participatory platform where collaboration becomes central. The conventional solo format is reimagined as a shared space of experiences, relationships and dialogue, presenting art as an evolving process of interaction and collective becoming.
The show will feature around 100 works created between 2024 and 2026, spanning acrylic, spray, pastel, prints and digital media. Alongside the artworks, a series of collaborative programmes including panel discussions, workshops, interactive audio-visuals, film screenings, musical events and theatre performances, will be organised throughout the exhibition period.
The exhibition and its programmes are supported by several organisations, including Bhabachakra, Syllabaad Collective, Charukola Animation Society, Dhaka Comics, Cartoon People, Tickify, Elaka Studios Ltd., Footprint Film Production and Siliconinja.
Mubtasim Alvee, born in 2001, is a Dhaka-based multidisciplinary artist, animator and activist. He is currently pursuing an MFA in Painting at the Faculty of Fine Arts, Dhaka University.
His practice engages with abstraction, perception and process, blending personal inquiry with collective realities. He is also the founder of Syllabaad Collective and the Charukola Animation Society, initiatives focused on collaborative learning and interdisciplinary exchange.
Through his evolving body of work, Alvee continues to challenge conventional approaches to art, pedagogy and exhibition-making.
