Echoes of Bengal to Open at Palazzo della Cancelleria, Rome
Curated by Alisha Pradhan and organized by HerNet Foundation and HerNet Fine Arts, the exhibition marks a major step for Bangladesh’s cultural diplomacy in Europe.
Photo 1: Cultural and diplomatic engagement connected to Bangladesh-Italy artistic exchange. Photo may be used with credit: HerNet Foundation / HerNet Fine Arts.
In a historic milestone for Bangladesh’s cultural diplomacy, HerNet Foundation and HerNet Fine Arts are set to present Echoes of Bengal – Art for Peace Pilgrimage at Palazzo della Cancelleria in Rome from 03 July 2026 to 19 July 2026, with the opening programme scheduled for 03 July 2026 at 6:00 PM. The exhibition is being organized in collaboration with the Embassy of the Holy See in Dhaka, the Apostolic Nunciature, and under the patronage of the Dicastery for Culture and Education of the Holy See / Vatican.
For the first time, a Bangladeshi art organization is presenting an international art exhibition with the patronage of the Vatican, making Echoes of Bengal a landmark moment for the country’s art sector. This recognition places Bangladeshi creativity within one of the world’s most influential cultural and spiritual spheres and signals a new chapter for Bangladesh’s presence in European cultural diplomacy.
Echoes of Bengal is not only an exhibition; it is a cultural statement. It presents Bengal as a civilization of memory, imagination, resilience, beauty and humanism. Through paintings and visual expressions rooted in the soil, rivers, language, liberation history, folk spirit, spirituality and contemporary life of Bangladesh, the exhibition seeks to show the world that Bangladeshi art carries a message of peace that speaks beyond geography and faith.
A historic platform for Bangladesh in Europe
The significance of the exhibition extends beyond the gallery. Organized in Rome, at the heart of a global cultural and diplomatic centre, Echoes of Bengal brings Bangladeshi artists into direct conversation with European audiences, diplomatic communities, collectors, cultural leaders, galleries, museums and institutions. It creates a rare platform where the artistic identity of Bangladesh can be seen not as a regional expression, but as a serious, sophisticated and internationally relevant cultural voice.
The exhibition also strengthens the bridge between Bangladesh, the Holy See and Italy through the universal language of art. In a time when the world needs dialogue, empathy and shared humanity, Echoes of Bengal uses creativity as a path to peace. It affirms that art can become a form of diplomacy – gentle, persuasive, deeply human and capable of reaching places where politics alone cannot.
Curated by Alisha Pradhan
The exhibition is conceptualized and curated by Alisha Pradhan, Founder and General Secretary of HerNet Foundation and Chief Curator of HerNet Fine Arts. Under her curatorial leadership, Echoes of Bengal has been designed as an Art for Peace Pilgrimage: a journey through which Bangladeshi artists present their cultural inheritance, social conscience and creative imagination to the world.
Alisha Pradhan’s curatorial vision brings together established masters, respected contemporary figures, emerging voices, women artists and members of the Bangladeshi diaspora in an intergenerational dialogue. Her approach treats art not only as an object of beauty, but as a vessel of memory, dignity and national representation. Through this exhibition, she seeks to position Bangladeshi art on a stronger international platform and open the door for future HerNet Fine Arts initiatives in Europe, the United Kingdom and the United States.
Participating artists and featured masters
Echoes of Bengal brings together Bangladeshi senior artists, established contemporary voices, women artists, diaspora figures and international contributors in one carefully curated platform. The core participating artists are presented with Bangladeshi artists first, followed by international participating artists, while the wider exhibition also carries the cultural strength of works by veteran and legendary names of Bangladesh.
Bangladeshi participating artists: A. Rahman; Ahmed Nawaz; Anisuzzaman Anis; Dilruba Latif; Farida Yesmin Parveen; Hasura Akther Rumky; Jamal Ahmed; Lutfa Mahmuda; Md. Ziaur Rahman; Rajaul Islam Lovelu; Ratnashwar Sutradhwar; Rokeya Sultana; Sultanul Islam; Uttam Kumar Karmaker; Zannat Keya.
International participating artists: Paola Belfore; Peter Jonas (United Kingdom).
The international dimension of the exhibition is specially strengthened by the participation of Paola Belfore and Peter Jonas (United Kingdom), reflecting the exhibition’s growing bridge between Bangladesh and the wider European art community.
In addition, the wider artistic presentation includes works by veteran and legendary artists of Bangladesh, including Abdul Mannan, Abdus Satter, Ahmed Shamsuddoha, Biren Shome, Farida Zaman, Kanak Chanpa Chakma, Md. Muniruzzaman, Mohammad Eunus, Mohammad Iqbal, Monirul Islam, Rafiqun Nabi, Ranjit Das, Rezaun Nabi, Sheikh Afzal, Syed Zahid Iqbal and Tarun Ghosh, among other respected artists. Their presence gives the exhibition historical depth, national prestige and intergenerational force.
Other featured artists and represented works: Abdul Mannan; Abdus Satter; Ahmed Shamsuddoha; Al-Akhir Sarker; Biren Shome; Elham Huq; Fareha Zeba; Farida Zaman; Habiba Akter Rinta; Jahangir Hossain; Kanak Chanpa Chakma; Karu Titas; Md. Muniruzzaman; Mohammad Eunus; Mohammad Iqbal; Monirul Islam; Naima Haque; Polly Rani Karmaker; Pradyut Kumar Das; Rafiqun Nabi; Ranjit Das; Rezaun Nabi; Samina Nafies; Shahin Sobhana Suravi; Sheikh Afzal; Soikat Hossain; Syed Zahid Iqbal; Tarun Ghosh; Umme Habiba Sumi; Vinita Karim.
| “Echoes of Bengal carries the soul of Bangladesh to Rome. It is an offering of peace through art, and it is also a statement that the culture of Bangladesh deserves to stand confidently before the world.” – Alisha Pradhan, Founder and General Secretary, HerNet Foundation; Chief Curator, HerNet Fine Arts |
About HerNet Foundation and HerNet Fine Arts
HerNet Foundation is a Bangladesh-based organization working across social, cultural and community initiatives. Over the past seven years, it has developed programs that support inclusion, creativity, public engagement and social responsibility. In recent times, during challenging national and social circumstances, HerNet Foundation has continued to create platforms for artists and communities, organizing a series of art initiatives that reaffirm the power of culture in public life.
HerNet Fine Arts is the cultural and artistic platform of HerNet Foundation. It has been established to promote Bangladeshi artists nationally and internationally, build bridges with museums, galleries, embassies, cultural institutions and collectors, and create sustainable opportunities for South Asian artists in the global art world. Echoes of Bengal is HerNet Fine Arts’ first major international exhibition and the beginning of a wider international journey.
Photo 2: HerNet Foundation and HerNet Fine Arts representatives with diplomatic and cultural stakeholders during engagements related to Echoes of Bengal. Photo may be used with credit: HerNet Foundation / HerNet Fine Arts.
Photo 3: Curator Alisha Pradhan during a formal engagement with senior church dignitaries in connection with Echoes of Bengal. Photo may be used with credit: HerNet Foundation / HerNet Fine Arts.
Art Camp at the Courtyard of Palazzo della Cancelleria
In addition to the exhibition, an art camp took place on 1 July 2026 in the courtyard of Palazzo della Cancelleria, Rome. The camp transformed the historic courtyard into a living studio where Bangladeshi and international artists created, exchanged ideas and carried the colours, memory and spirit of Bangladesh into one of Rome’s most distinguished cultural settings.
During the Art Camp, H.E. Archbishop Kevin S. Randall, Ambassador of the Holy See, and Monir Prodhan, Chairman of HerNet Foundation, visited the courtyard and went through the artists’ works, engaging warmly with the participating artists and exchanging courtesies. A senior official of the Embassy of Bangladesh also joined the engagement in the concluding part, further underscoring the diplomatic and cultural significance of the initiative.
The presence of Peter Jonas from the United Kingdom added a powerful international dimension to the Art Camp. His participation brought depth, generosity and cross-cultural resonance to the initiative, strengthening the exhibition’s message that art can create bridges across nations, histories and communities.
Art Camp participants, listed alphabetically: A. Rahman; Ahmed Nawaz; Anisuzzaman Anis; Dilruba Latif; Farida Yesmin Parveen; Hasura Akther Rumky; Jamal Ahmed; Lutfa Mahmuda; Md. Ziaur Rahman; Paola Belfore; Peter Jonas (United Kingdom); Rajaul Islam Lovelu; Ratnashwar Sutradhwar; Rokeya Sultana; Sultanul Islam; Uttam Kumar Karmaker; Zannat Keya.
Photo 4: Participants of the Echoes of Bengal Art Camp, held on 1 July 2026 in the courtyard of Palazzo della Cancelleria, Rome. Photo may be used with credit: HerNet Foundation / HerNet Fine Arts.
A national moment of cultural confidence
For Bangladesh, Echoes of Bengal represents a moment of cultural confidence. It carries the country’s art, artists and stories into a setting associated with global dialogue, faith, education and culture. It also demonstrates how a Bangladeshi organization, driven by commitment and vision, can build an international platform without waiting for permission to dream beyond borders.
The exhibition is expected to strengthen Bangladesh’s cultural presence in Europe and inspire future collaborations between Bangladeshi artists and international institutions. By presenting Bengal’s artistic legacy in Rome, HerNet Foundation and HerNet Fine Arts are contributing to a broader national objective: to make Bangladesh visible not only through development and economy, but through imagination, creativity, ethics and beauty.
Key details for editors
| Exhibition | Echoes of Bengal – Art for Peace Pilgrimage |
| Venue | Palazzo della Cancelleria, Rome, Italy |
| Exhibition dates | 03 July 2026 to 19 July 2026 |
| Opening programme | 03 July 2026, 6:00 PM |
| Associated art camp | 01 July 2026, courtyard of Palazzo della Cancelleria |
| Organized by | HerNet Foundation and HerNet Fine Arts |
| Collaboration | Embassy of the Holy See in Dhaka / Apostolic Nunciature |
| Patronage | Dicastery for Culture and Education of the Holy See / Vatican |
| Curator | Alisha Pradhan, Founder and General Secretary of HerNet Foundation and Chief Curator of HerNet Fine Arts |
| Press inquiry | hernetfoundation@gmail.com |
Press inquiry
For press inquiries, interview requests, media coordination and photo usage, please contact: hernetfoundation@gmail.com