Dhaka: Alliance Française de Dhaka, Goethe-Institut Bangladesh and Urban Study Group will organise ‘Illuminated Puran Dhaka — Heritage in Limelight’, highlighting the endangered cultural heritage of Puran Dhaka through video and light installations by French artist Christophe Bruyas and German artist Philipp Geist.

The opening ceremony of the exceptional event will take place on Friday, on 16 October, 2015 at 6:00pm at the Devi Nibash (next to Northbrook Hall, Old Dhaka).

Emeritus Professor of University of Dhaka Anisuzzaman will be present on the occasion as the chief guest. Ambassador of France to Bangladesh Sophie Aubert, and Ambassador of Germany to Bangladesh Dr Thomas Prinz are also expected to be present as the guests of honour at the inaugural function.  

In addition to the vespertine illumination, a cultural programme, including dance and music presentations as well as an exhibition showcasing the rich cultural heritage of Puran Dhaka, is awaiting the audience (on Friday evening only).

The project aims at raising awareness on the cultural value of the heritage buildings for the country. Ideally, it is a first step towards initiating yearly Heritage Open Days in Bangladesh in the future.

The venue of the event, Devi Nibash, is a picturesque riverfront palace right next to Sadarghat Terminal, built in the 19th century by a businessman and Zamindar. The two-storey building — a remnant of the once glorious waterfront of Dhaka — was built in the Neo Classical style. Unlike neighbouring Ahsan Manzil (‘Pink Palace’), the deserted complex in the midst of a huge palm tree garden is hardly known to the public.

The two artists responsible for the video and light installation, Christophe Bruyas and Philipp Geist, have worked in many countries around the world; it is however their first visit to Bangladesh.

Christophe Bruyas is a French light designer and theatre director, who, among others, participated in the light festival Festival Lumière in Lyon (France). Berlin based artist Philipp Geist works internationally as an artist with the mediums of video/light installation as well as photography and painting.

The event is partly funded by the Franco-German Fund for projects in third party countries. Set up in 2003 to mark the 40th anniversary of the Treaty of the Elysée, the fund is a potent symbol of the friendship between France and Germany. It was set up as witness to cultural cooperation between France and Germany in third party countries by means of concrete cooperation projects in the fields of the visual arts, theatre, cinema, broadcasting, sports, intellectual debate, literature and promoting the learning of French and German.

The event is organised in corporation with Dhaka South City Cooperation and with the support of the Ministry of Cultural Affairs.