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A woman poses in front of an artwork – “Reetu” by artist Bishwajit Goswami, during Dhaka Art Summit at National Art Gallery in Dhaka, Bangladesh on February 12, 2023. Written in Bengali across the face, the word – “Reetu”, meaning “seasons”, is also a commonly used first name for Bengali girls, culturally and symbolically related to the name “Bonna” (Flood) which is the theme of Dhaka Art Summit. Bangladesh is known as “ground zero for climate change” and faces additional stress as nearly 75% of Bangladesh sits below sea level and faces annual floods. Bangladesh has six seasons (and some would argue “had” as climate change has made two seasons difficult to recognize anymore) each harkening to a particular mood, feelings, and cultural practices. Human life can also be measured in seasons. Goswami connects these personal stories of land, nature, and seasons with words, pigment, and touch. Fragments of memory enable a sensorial, intimate exchange of feelings and words to take place with the artist, and within the self, manifesting in moving drawings connecting our inner and outer worlds. (Photo by Joy Saha/Rex Features/Shutterstock)
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