Globalisation and local anxieties in the art of Bangladesh: The interface of history and the contemporary

Abstract

This chapter attempts to view the effects of globalisation on the contemporary art of Bangladesh where the local and global seemingly converge, yet contain an element of anxiety as historical debates and dilemmas continue to feature within the changed context. It sifts through the history of fragmentation and transformation that led to the birth of Bangladesh and its influence on Bangladeshi art. It addresses issues of ‘identity’ and ‘tradition’ that have featured strongly in the art of this region and how they are contextualised and assimilated within the global reach of the contemporary. The gradual impact of contemporary art and the transformation of the art scene of Bangladesh will be traced as it emerges on the global horizon and the ensuing challenges faced by artists.