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Friday, March 29, 2024

Sounds and shades of Bangladesh

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The Bangladesh Embassy in Manila, in partnership with De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde (DLS-CSB), recently presented Shades and Sounds of Bangladesh, an exhibition featuring the paintings and tapestries of award-winning Bengali artists who have likewise held shows in Korea, Indonesia, India, Japan, and Hong Kong.

The paintings depict daily Bengali life, with images of boats as transport, vivid landscapes full of flowers, with touches of iconic calligraphy.

One unique type of tapestry showcased was the Nakshi Kanthas, aged cloth stitched together like a quilt. Believers claim these bring good luck to marriage, fertility, prosperity, and happiness.

The recent opening of the exhibition was attended by Ambassador of Bangladesh Asad Alam Sia, DLS-CSB President Br. Dennis Magbanua, FSC, and School of Design and Arts Dean Architect Asela Domingo.

The ensemble together with AB Music Production students

Associate Dean of Benilde Arts and Culture Cluster (BACC) Dr. Sunita Mukhi together with exhibit curator Alain Zedrick Camiling hit a gong three times to officially signal the start of the cultural exchange exhibit, while Design Foundation faculty members Benjie Cabrera and Carlito Camahalan performed different tribal instruments as background music.

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A concert entitled An Evening with Flute, soon followed, featuring famous Bengali flutist Ustad Murtaza Kabir Murad, and his ensemble, namely, Swarup Hossain who played the percussion tabla, Rejaul Karim on the violin, together with Ustad’s disciples Nishat Afrose and Iftekhar Hassan.

The performance included mellow songs that gradually shifted to upbeat music. With the song entitled “Kirtan,” students of the school’s Dance Program, namely Natalie Gilbert, Danny De Vera and Lea Roque, danced to the calming tones of the music, featuring choreography by  the program’s chairman, Christine Crame.

The AB Music Production musicians, Jose Mañego, Shirley Castro, Paolo De Leon, Rhett Lee Macasu, Marc Novera, Shin Eom, Rowen Gamueda, Jesse Pitogo, Ptrick Atok, and Justine Kyle Co, on the the piano, guitar, tambourine and maracas, led the concert’s finale with their collaborative piece, a modernized version of Raag Jog.

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