The Gallery Cosmos on Tuesday organsied a day-long watercolour exhibition titled Shared Horizons featuring Bangladeshi artist Mong Mong Sho and Chinese artist Ma Baiqi to celebrate the 50 years of Bangladesh–China diplomatic relations at Garden Gallery Cosmos at Baridhara in Dhaka.
The exhibition displayed 28 watercolour paintings mostly depicting landscapes and human stories of Asia, specifically Bangladesh, China and Nepal, which was inaugurated by renowned artist Professor Emeritus Rafiqun Nabi.
Bangladesh Nationalist Party standing committee member Abdul Moyeen Khan, the BNP leader Altaf Hossain Chowdhury, former foreign secretary Farooq Sobhan and cultural counsellor of the China embassy Li Shaopeng were among the speakers at the ceremony moderated by Gallery Cosmos chairman Enayetullah Khan.
Enayetullah Khan said that Gallery Cosmos organised a series of events, including art exhibitions, to celebrate 50 years of bilateral relationship between Bangladesh and China, based on his belief that artists are the world’s true and silent peacemakers.
Abdul Moyeen Khan stressed on the friendship of these two countries where art can work as a communication tool and diplomats can organise more events focused on cultural exchange.
Altaf Hossain Chowdhury stated that Bangladesh consistently offers its support to China, predicting that China is poised to become the global leader this century.
Li Shaopeng said that while they are pleased to work with Bangladesh, strengthening cultural ties is necessary to ensure the relationship is not merely transactional.
Bangladeshi artist Mong Mong Sho received a Yunnan provincial scholarship to study oil painting at Yunnan Arts University, China.
He completed his Honours in Painting and Masters in Watercolour at Yunnan Arts University, where he now lecturers while pursuing a PhD in Water-based Media at the China Academy of Art.
Chinese acclaimed oil and watercolour painter Ma Baiqi, personally designed and built the Zero One Art Museum, a Beijing-based private gallery.
As part of the event, these two artists conducted a watercolour workshop titled Songs of Watercolour where 18 young Bangladeshi artists participated.
