AFD (Alliance Française de Dhaka) is set to host ‘Embrace of the Earth’, the first solo exhibition by Bangladeshi artist Rajib Ahasen, opening on Friday, April 24 at La Galerie.
The inauguration will take place at 6:00 pm, with noted artist Prof Jamal Ahmed attending as chief guest.
The exhibition features around 36 paintings in watercolor and acrylic, focusing on themes of memory, place and transformation. Drawing from his early life in rural Bangladesh, Ahasen presents scenes shaped by earthen roads, canals, riverbanks and agrarian surroundings. His works are based on lived experience, reflecting the lives of ordinary people and their environments.
The collection also explores the artist’s transition from rural settings to urban life. The paintings capture contrasts between openness and density, as well as the changing pace and structure of daily life. Through layered textures, controlled use of light and expressive brushwork, the artist presents a visual account of adaptation and shifting identity.
According to the organisers, the exhibition aims to reconnect viewers with the relationship between land, memory and self, while documenting a personal yet relatable journey.
Rajib Ahasen completed his Mawlana degree, equivalent to a Master’s, from a Qawmi Madrasah in 2014. He has since participated in several exhibitions, including the 6th Friendship Art Exhibition and the 7th Kahal International Art Exhibition at Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy in Dhaka, and the 8th Kahal International Art Fair in Tokyo, Japan.
The exhibition is open to all and will remain open to visitors until April 26, from 2:00 pm to 8:00 pm daily.
