The exhibition The Long Present, currently on view at Bengal Shilpalay, brings together the works of fifteen distinguished painters whose artistic journeys span different generations, experiences, and visual languages. While all of the artworks belong to the present moment, each carries traces of history, memory, personal reflection, and decades of artistic exploration.

Featuring works by Hashem Khan, Rafiqun Nabi, Abdus Shakoor Shah, Nazlee Laila Mansur, Farida Zaman, Mohammad Eunus, Jamaluddin Ahmed, Ranjit Das, Ahmed Shamsuddoha, Shishir Bhattacharjee, Kanak Chanpa Chakma, Mohammad Iqbal, Maksuda Iqbal Nipa, Kamal Uddin, and Sahid Kazi, the exhibition presents a rich and diverse panorama of contemporary Bangladeshi painting.

Rather than following a chronological narrative, The Long Present explores how different artists engage with time itself. The participating painters emerged from distinct social and cultural realities. For some, artistic practice evolved through periods of political change, social transformation, and personal resistance; for others, it developed within an increasingly complex and rapidly changing contemporary world. Yet their works meet on a shared platform, creating an engaging conversation between past experiences and present perspectives.

The exhibition reveals a wide range of artistic approaches-from figurative and narrative compositions to abstraction, symbolism, satire, and lyrical explorations of colour and form. Visitors encounter works that reflect nature, memory, identity, society, spirituality, and the human condition, demonstrating the breadth of concerns that continue to shape Bangladeshi art today.

Speaking at the inauguration, the Honourable Minister of Finance and Planning, Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury MP, emphasized the importance of strengthening the country's creative economy and supporting artists and cultural practitioners. Participating artists also reflected on the role of art in nurturing imagination, preserving cultural heritage, and inspiring future generations.

The inauguration ceremony of the exhibition, titled "The Long Present," was graced by Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury as the chief guest. The stage was shared by participating artists Rafiqun Nabi, Mohammad Eunus, and Kanak Chanpa Chakma, alongside the Chairperson of Bengal Foundation, Abul Khair.

More than a survey of individual achievements, The Long Present highlights the continuity of artistic practice across generations. The exhibition suggests that the present is never isolated; it is constantly informed by memory, experience, tradition, and renewal. Through their unique visual languages, the participating artists demonstrate how art can connect different times, perspectives, and ways of understanding the world.

Organized by Bengal Foundation, the exhibition remains open to visitors at Bengal Shilpalay until 4 July 2026.