An exhibition titled Sangkalan is set to offer a layered exploration of the 1952 Language Movement by focusing on the role of vernacular print culture, bringing rare archival materials and contemporary artistic responses under one roof in Dhaka.
Presented by Alliance Française de Dhaka (AFD), the exhibition examines how newspapers, magazines, literary supplements and pamphlets functioned as powerful tools of resistance, remembrance and identity formation over the past seven decades. The showcase highlights how everyday print practices helped document and sustain language activism and shaped public memory.
Through original archival items and carefully curated reproductions, Sangkalan traces the evolution of visual and textual narratives surrounding the Language Movement. Visitors will be able to observe how printed words and images contributed to political awareness and collective consciousness during critical periods of cultural struggle.
Alongside historical documents, the exhibition also features newly produced postcards and posters inspired by archival print materials. A curated selection of contemporary artworks responding to vernacular print themes connects past and present, showing how the legacy of print-based activism continues to influence artistic and social discourse today.
Organisers say the multi-dimensional arrangement is designed to encourage reflection on how print culture preserves histories of resistance and keeps collective memory alive across generations. By juxtaposing archival matter with modern reinterpretations, the exhibition creates a dialogue between historic movements and contemporary creative practices.
Sangkalan will be held at Galerie Zoom in Dhanmondi from February 20 to 28, open to all visitors. The opening reception is scheduled for February 20 at 6:30 pm, and the visiting hours are from 3:00 pm to 9:00 pm, except on Sunday.
