The dazzling fireworks that mark the arrival of the New Year across cities worldwide may symbolise joy and renewal, yet their environmental consequences often go unnoticed. Young visual artist Arif Bachchu brings this contradiction into sharp focus through a recent installation that challenges the culture of excessive celebration.
Displayed at the recently concluded 24th New Artists’ Fine Art Exhibition 2025, organised by the Fine Arts Department of Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy, Bachchu’s mixed-media installation ‘Reflection of Brutal Celebration’ examines the ecological damage caused by fireworks during New Year festivities in urban centres such as Dhaka.
The work confronts viewers with the unseen aftermath of celebration, including air pollution, deafening noise and the silent suffering of wildlife. By questioning the social acceptance of fireworks, the installation invites reflection on whether such practices remain justifiable in an era defined by climate crisis and environmental degradation.
Scientific studies show that firecrackers release hazardous chemicals into the air, including sulphur, charcoal and potassium nitrate, contributing to toxic pollution. The impact extends beyond human health, as explosions and intense flashes disorient birds and animals, often with fatal consequences.
A stark example occurred on January 2, 2021, when hundreds of starlings were found dead near Rome’s main railway station following New Year celebrations. International animal rights organisation OIPA described the incident as a man-made tragedy, renewing global concern over the environmental and ethical costs of fireworks.
“It is our moral responsibility to protect the planet,” Bachchu told The Times of Bangladesh. “Celebration should not come at the cost of other lives. We need to question what is truly necessary and what harm we continue to normalise.”
Gallery Cosmos Artistic Director Sourav Chowdhury described the work as timely and socially conscious. “Arif is using art as a platform for awareness rather than mere visual appeal. His practice consistently pushes for meaningful reflection and change,” he told The TIMES of Bangladesh.
Born in 1993, Arif Bachchu is a Bangladeshi visual artist whose work focuses on environmental and social issues. He holds BFA and MFA degrees from Jatiya Kabi Kazi Nazrul Islam University in Trishal, Mymensingh, graduating with academic distinction.
His work has been shown in several national and international exhibitions, including the National Art Exhibition and Young Artists’ Fine Art Exhibition at Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy, as well as exhibitions in India and Nepal. He won third prize at the 28th Berger Young Painters Art Competition in 2023 and has received honours including the S M Sultan Award and the Shafiuddin Ahmed Award.
Currently, Bachchu serves as a gallery executive at Gallery Cosmos in Dhaka and is also Director of the 3D Art Gallery at the Bangladesh Military Museum. Through exhibitions, workshops and institutional roles, he continues to advocate socially and environmentally engaged art.
Through Reflection of Brutal Celebration, the artist ultimately raises an unsettling question: in pursuit of fleeting joy, how much damage to nature are we willing to ignore?
