A Print-making Exhibition under the purview of 3rd Print Biennale India. Pictures by Bibhash Lodh/BS News Agency.
Sanchita Chatterjee, BS News Agency, Kolkata: Bridging Culture and Arts Foundation (B-CAF), in collaboration with Lalit Kala Akademi under the purview of the 3rd Print Biennale India, successfully inaugurated the printmaking exhibition IN THE NAME OF GOD at B-CAF, Kolkata. Curated by eminent artist and academic Prof. Parag Roy, the exhibition brought together 23 practising printmakers from West Bengal, presenting a thoughtful exploration of faith, belief and spirituality as enduring forces shaping human civilisation, culture and social consciousness.
The exhibition was inaugurated in the presence of Mr Munish Jhajharia, Director, Multiwyn Group; Dr R. K. Mohanty, Regional Secretary, Lalit Kala Akademi; and Mr Syed Kawsar Jamal, eminent poet and cultural thinker. Their presence added intellectual depth and cultural significance to the opening ceremony.
Rooted in the rich traditions of printmaking, the exhibition examined how ideas of divinity, belief systems and ethical values have influenced personal experiences, collective memory and societal structures over time. Rather than presenting a singular religious narrative, IN THE NAME OF GOD offered diverse artistic interpretations that encouraged reflection, dialogue and contemplation, reaffirming printmaking as a medium of critical inquiry and cultural transmission in contemporary art practice.
Speaking on the occasion, Curator Prof. Parag Roy said, “This exhibition reflects on how ideas of faith and divinity have been understood, interpreted and expressed across human history. Using print-making, the artists engage with these themes in ways that allow multiple perspectives to coexist and invite sustained reflection.”
Ms Reena Dewan, Director, B-CAF, remarked, “At B-CAF, our endeavour has always been to create platforms that foster meaningful engagement with culture and society. In the Name of God brought together eminent and emerging printmakers whose works encouraged viewers to reflect on belief, tradition and shared human values through the powerful language of print-making.”
Dr R. K. Mohanty, Regional Secretary, Lalit Kala Akademi, stated,“The 3rd Print Biennale India aims to highlight the depth, diversity and relevance of printmaking practices across the country. This exhibition contributed significantly to that objective by presenting works that engaged with culturally and philosophically significant themes through a rigorous and time-honoured medium.”
The exhibition featured works by Avijit Mukherjee, Atin Basak, Binita Bandyopadhyay, Dasarath Das, Debojyoty Dhara, Dilip Kr. Sasmal, Dipanjan Bagli, Jayanta Naskar, Kamal Mitra, Khokan Giri, Manik K Ghosh, Monoj Baidya, Parag Roy, Paula Sengupta, Rajat Subhra Halder, Rajen Mondal, Ramen Kastha, Siddharth Ghosh, Srikanta Paul, Sukla Poddar, Srabani Sarkar, Sreyashi Saha and Suchita Barick.
IN THE NAME OF GOD remained on view at B-CAF, Bridging Culture & Arts, Kolkata, from 17 January to 1 February 2025, offering audiences an opportunity to engage with printmaking practices that thoughtfully examined faith, ethics, memory and the human condition within contemporary cultural discourses.