South Asian artists display their best works in Dhaka

"Who are we... we are us," says the caption to a painting by Anoma Wijewardene, a Sri Lankan painter who is among the South Asian artists displaying their best works at an exhibition.

"Who are we... we are us," says the caption to a painting by Anoma Wijewardene, a Sri Lankan painter who is among the South Asian artists displaying their best works at an exhibition in Dhaka.

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The 15-day exhibition of 25 leading artists from South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) nations was inaugurated at the National Art Gallery of Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy, New Age newspaper said Friday.

Indian High Commission, Indian Council for Cultural Relations and the academy have jointly organised the exhibition.

Indian High Commissioner Pinak Ranjan Chakravarty was present at the opening.

Visitors to the gallery were welcomed with artist Murtaja Baseer's acrylic painting titled Unity.

His art defines the strength of SAARC in the form of a girl wearing a crown embedded with national flowers of the SAARC countries.

Indian artist Anupum Sen has produced Deity, another acrylic piece at the exhibition which represents divinity in human.

Painters from India, Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka have worked together in the spirit of friendship, trust and understanding, the newspaper said.

The artworks produced at the exhibition are outcomes of a camp organised at Jaisalmer in India Jan 14-23, 2007.

Information minister Abul Kalam Azad, while inaugurating the event, said: "This exhibition will strengthen the cultural bonds of the SAARC region and we are proud to host the show."