A landmark celebration of Bangladesh, Japan cultural legacy

Visual art exhibition titled “Origins of Vision” began on Friday on the Japanese Embassy premises in the capital.
HerNet Fine Arts, in collaboration with the Embassy of Japan in Bangladesh, has been organising the show. The exhibition, which runs until 26 July, stands as a profound tribute to Bangladesh’s artistic heritage and its enduring friendship with Japan.
The exhibition was officially opened with a speech by Alisha Pradhan, Curator of the Exhibition and Founder & Secretary General of HerNet Foundation on the evening. 
The grand opening ceremony was graced by the presence of the Deputy Chief of Mission of Japan, Takahashi Naoki, who delivered opening remarks underscoring the importance of cultural diplomacy and people-to-people ties.
Spanish Ambassador Gabriel Sistiaga, and Korean Ambassador Park Young-sik attended the event as the guest of honours.
HerNet Foundation Chairman Monir Prodhan also spoke the gathering, sharing reflections on the organisation’s long-standing commitment to the arts.  
The event’s Chief Guest artist Monirul Islam shared heartfelt reflections on the evolution of Bangladeshi art and the importance of honoring its pioneers.
A distinguished lineup of special guests joined the celebration, including Mohammad Eunus, Ahmed Shamsuddoha, Naima Haque, Farida Zaman, Sheikh Afzal, Mustafa Khalid Palash, and Monir Prodhan, Chairman of HerNet Foundation. 
This exhibition is historic for being the first-ever tribute by a private organisation to the founding luminaries of Bangladeshi art. It features rare works and archival homages to legendary masters such as Zainul Abedin, SM Sultan, Mohammad Kibria, Novera Ahmed, Rashid Choudhury, Quamrul Hassan, and Safiuddin Ahmed—each a cornerstone in the formation of the nation’s artistic identity.
Alongside these posthumous tributes, the exhibition showcases curated works by 47 of Bangladesh’s most acclaimed and emerging artists, forming a dynamic cross-generational dialogue on memory, resilience, and imagination.
The show will remain open to the public daily from 3:00pm to 8:30pm till 26 July.