CELEBRATING FOUR YEARS OF CREATIVITY
O' Hen Art Studio, a beacon of creativity and artistic expression, celebrated its 4th anniversary with a series of vibrant events that spanned the entire month of September 2024. The planning for this grand celebration started as early as three months prior, with a team of passionate artists ensuring that everything - from artwork to invitations - was meticulously prepared. With a focus on blending creativity, interaction, and learning. The month-long fest was a remarkable success, attracting art lovers, collectors, and families alike.
PREPARATION FOR THE GRAND EVENT
The anniversary celebration involved months of preparation, with the majority of the artworks of the artists being created from July 2024 onward. By August, invitations were being sent out, and promotional efforts, including social media posts, press releases, and posters in universities, colleges, cultural clubs and on the streets were in full swing. The team at O' Hen worked hard to organize three major events, all of which left a lasting impression on the art community.
1st SEPTEMBER - OUTDOOR PAINTING SESSION
O’ Hen Fest was started off by the Outdoor Painting Session on the 1st of September, Sunday, where art enthusiasts from across the city gathered at the Brahmaputra Riverfront near the Brahmaputra River for a relaxing, creative day. This event was not just about art but it was also about having some time to relax, paint, and draw in the great outdoors while surrounded by other artists, including the younger artists, the O' Hen kids, their parents and nature enthusiasts.
21st-25th SEPTEMBER - ART AWAKENS EXHIBITION
The visual art exhibition ART AWAKENS, held from September 21 to September 25, was the focal point of the anniversary celebrations. The exhibition, which included the creations of six studio artists, where they showcased paintings and crochet art. On September 21, the event was officially inaugurated by the well-known Assamese theater artist, actor, and film director Himanshu Prasad Das. More than eighty people attended the ribbon-cutting ceremony.
The exhibition served as a platform for artists to showcase their portfolios, while also giving art enthusiasts and collectors a chance to purchase unique and original artworks straight from the studio. ART AWAKENS facilitated a space for meaningful interactions between the artists and the visitors and among the artists itself, allowing artists to engage directly with visitors through meet-up sessions, explaining their inspirations, creative philosophies, and the stories behind their works. This unique opportunity also guided the curious visitors to get their answers directly from the creator of the art pieces. This event had a profound impact on many visitors, from kids to parents particularly in shifting their perspectives on abstract art.
The participating artists also produced a podcast in which they talked about their experiences, the behind-the-scenes story of the exhibition, and their individual methods of creating art.
The exhibition was a great success in terms of both artistic engagement and commercial impact. ART AWAKENS attracted interest from both local audiences and the art buyers from outside the region.
29th SEPTEMBER - CLOSING CEREMONY
The closing ceremony of the anniversary celebration was celebrated on 29th September and it featured the O' Hen Kids Art Exhibition. In this event, young artists from the studio showcased their imaginative creations. The exhibition was inaugurated by the founders Jerina Ara Ahmeda and Khairul Bachaar, alongside the parents and children themselves.
One of the highlights of the closing event was the launch of THE WAY THEY IMAGINE, O' Hen Publication’s first children’s visual storytelling book. The book, written by the founders and filled with paintings by O' Hen Kids, celebrated the creativity of the younger generation. The unveiling of the art book was a proud moment for both the children and their parents, many of whom were in attendance.
The event also featured a series of cultural programs where kids and even their parents performed, adding a festive and personal touch to the celebration. Students who had completed a year of art training at O’ Hen received certificates, and gifts were distributed among all the studio members, including the professionals and kids. Parents were honored with flowers, further emphasizing the studio's community-driven approach.
The evening ended with an interactive session and a musical evening, where families, students, and artists bonded, reflecting on the success of the anniversary fest and looking forward to future creative endeavors.
O’ Hen Art Studio's 4th Anniversary celebration was more than just a series of events, the celebration proved how art has the power to bring people together fostering creativity and by creating lasting memories. From outdoor painting by the river to the grand visual art exhibition and the joyous kids event, the studio succeeded to reflect upon its vision by celebrating creativity, nurturing artistic talents, and building a strong community.
Iftisham Nasrin
Artist, O' Hen Art Studio
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