Brihatta Art Foundation
বৃহত্ত্ব আর্ট ফাউন্ডেশন | |
| Formation | 2016 |
|---|---|
| Founder |
|
| Founded at | Dhaka, Bangladesh |
| Type | Non-profit artist-run space |
| Location |
|
| Fields | Contemporary art, public art, residencies |
Artistic Director | Bishwajit Goswami |
Co-founder | Nusrat Mahmud |
| Website | brihattaartfoundation |
Brihatta Art Foundation (Script error: The function "langx" does not exist.) is an artist-run non-profit contemporary art organization in Dhaka, Bangladesh.[1][2] Founded in 2016, the organization runs public art exhibitions, artist residencies, and educational projects.[2][3] Its main venue is located in a former tannery site in Hazaribagh, Old Dhaka.[1][4]
History
Brihatta Art Foundation was founded in 2016 by artist Bishwajit Goswami and entrepreneur Nusrat Mahmud.[3][2] The Bengali word Brihatta (বৃহত্ত্ব) means "immensity".[5]
The foundation initially ran workshops and student exhibitions across various locations, including the *Brihatta/Immensity* student project in 2017.[3] In 2020, following the relocation of leather tanneries out of Hazaribagh, the organization leased a disused tannery building at Mukti Tannery-1.[2][1] The building was renovated into an art gallery, open courtyard, and rooftop workspace, opening to the public in 2021 as Mukti Art Space.[4]
Projects and activities
Brihatta Home Art Project (2020)
In 2020, during COVID-19 pandemic lockdowns, the foundation held a mentorship program for fifteen emerging artists from Bangladesh.[6] Mentored by artists Dhali Al Mamoon, Mahbubur Rahman, and Bishwajit Goswami, participants created artwork in their homes using found and natural materials.[6]
Sthiti: Objects in Conversation (2022)
In June 2022, Brihatta organized *Sthiti: Objects in Conversation*, an exhibition displaying furniture and design objects made by 17 Bangladeshi architects, artisans, and artists.[4][7] Co-curated by Goswami, Diane Rhyu Taylor, and Ulrike Fellner, the exhibition featured 33 items, including an original 1970s drafting table owned by architect Muzharul Islam and original furniture from Jahangirnagar University.[4][8]
Dream of Human Nature (2023)
In November 2023, Brihatta hosted *Dream of Human Nature* at Mukti Art Space in collaboration with Belgian artist Koen Vanmechelen and the cultural organization LABIOMISTA.[9] The exhibition used installation art and biological materials to address local biodiversity and ecology.[9]
Gangaburi River Heritage Project (2023–2025)
The *Gangaburi* project is a research and public art initiative focused on the ecology of the Buriganga River.[1][10] Supported by the British Council and EUNIC Bangladesh, the project operated a mobile gallery on a two-storey riverboat that visited several boat terminals along Old Dhaka.[11][12]
Residencies
Brihatta runs local and international residency programs. In 2023, it became a partner space for Villa Swagatam, an Indo-French residency initiative managed by the French Institute.[3][13] The foundation hosts visiting international artists, including French artist Clémence Vazard, who exhibited her work *Nodir Shuta* in 2026.[14]
Governance and international presence
The foundation is managed by co-founder Bishwajit Goswami, who acts as artistic director, and co-founder Nusrat Mahmud.[1][9] It is a member of the World Art Foundations network.[5] Internationally, the foundation has participated in exhibitions and art fairs, including Paris Internationale in 2023 and the Conductor Art Fair at Powerhouse Arts in Brooklyn, New York, in 2026.[2][15]
See also
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 "Brihatta's quiet revolution in Hazaribagh". The Daily Star. 25 April 2025. Retrieved 10 August 2026.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 "Brihatta Art Foundation". Paris Internationale. Retrieved 10 August 2026.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 "Brihatta Art Foundation". Villa Swagatam. Retrieved 10 August 2026.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 "Brihatta Art Foundation holds design exhibition in Dhaka". Dhaka Tribune. 26 June 2022. Retrieved 10 August 2026.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 "Brihatta Art Foundation". World Art Foundations. Retrieved 10 August 2026.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 "The Three Mentors of Brihatta Home Art Project 2020". Showcase. 30 December 2020. Retrieved 10 August 2026.
- ↑ "When objects speak". The Daily Star. 20 June 2022. Retrieved 10 August 2026.
- ↑ "Brihatta organises Objects in Conversation". New Age. 18 June 2022. Retrieved 10 August 2026.
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 9.2 "Dream of Human Nature". LABIOMISTA. 4 November 2023. Retrieved 10 August 2026.
- ↑ "Gangaburi: Art celebrating life along Buriganga". The Daily Star. 16 November 2024. Retrieved 10 August 2026.
- ↑ "'Gangaburi' highlights importance of preserving national heritages". New Age. 14 May 2026. Retrieved 10 August 2026.
- ↑ "Brihatta Paal: Moving through memories, myths, motion". The Daily Star. 7 May 2025. Retrieved 10 August 2026.
- ↑ "Villa Swagatam laureates". Institut Français India. Retrieved 10 August 2026.
- ↑ "'Nodir Shuta' reflects on Bangladesh's rivers through textile art". The Daily Star. 17 February 2026. Retrieved 10 August 2026.
- ↑ "Bishwajit Goswami's work featured at New York's 'Conductor Art Fair'". The Daily Star. 30 May 2026. Retrieved 10 August 2026.
External links
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