DECORATED DEEDS

Decorated Deeds presents Arham ul Huq Chowdhury’s powerful new series of Bangla calligraphy works created on rare antique documents—some over a century old—spanning the East India Company period through the early 20th century. In this exhibition, Arham revives forgotten papers of Bengal’s legal, social, and cultural history by overlaying them with bold calligraphic interpretations of age-old Bangla proverbs and idioms. Each artwork becomes a conversation between past and present: the fragile patina of archival documents meets vibrant contemporary strokes, transforming everyday wisdom into striking visual narratives. Curated by ARK Reepon and presented in collaboration with Alliance Française de Dhaka, Decorated Deeds reflects ARTCON’s commitment to preserving heritage through contemporary artistic expression, offering viewers a rare and poetic merger of language, history, and material memory.

Arham–ul–Huq Chowdhury (b. 1975) is a versatile Bangladeshi artist, calligrapher, sculptor, designer, and researcher whose creative journey spans over three decades and multiple mediums. With a formal academic background in Anthropology—holding both Bachelor's and Master's degrees from the University of Dhaka—his work reflects a profound engagement with culture, heritage, and the environment. He has held numerous solo exhibitions since the mid-1990s, covering an eclectic range of forms including Bangla calligraphy, scrap metal sculpture, bonsai, art furniture, and batik using natural dye. His notable recent exhibitions include Decorated Deeds(2025) at Alliance Française de Dhaka, which featured Bangla calligraphy on antique documents, and Layouts in Letters II (2024), a fundraising show for animal welfare. He has also explored public and retrospective sculptural works, such as Sculpture Retrospective (2019) at CRP, Savar, and Duets in Metal and Water, a multi-part sculptural fountain series exhibited at various Dhaka venues. In parallel with his visual practice, Arham has participated in numerous workshops and seminars, enriching his interdisciplinary approach. These include mold-making with Spanish artist Esperanza Romero, Ebru marbling with Turkish master Hikmet Barutcugil, and several design-themed workshops and seminars hosted by the British Council. He also completed an art history and appreciation course at Shilpakala Academy in 2003. As a researcher, Arham has delved into architectural anthropology, focusing on Dhaka’s pre-partition heritage homes. His academic work includes ethnographic studies on life and social patterns in these historical structures, along with community-based research on the Aga Khawani group in Dhaka. Professionally, he has contributed to national development initiatives, including consultancy work with the Bangladesh Election Commission and UNDP for developing Bangla fonts for national ID cards. Arham’s involvement in cultural and environmental advocacy is equally notable. He is a founder member of the Bangladesh Heritage Foundation, a life member of the Bangladesh Solar Energy Commission, and is affiliated with organizations like the Bangladesh Crafts Council and Friends of CRP International. Currently, he works as a freelance artist, interior and landscape designer, and independent researcher focused on heritage and environmental issues.