Aga Khan Academy Dhaka celebrates the ‘Big Draw Festival’- an exhibition of the Grade 7 students’ artwork

Senior School students performing in the Big Draw opening assembly

Last week, the Grade 7 students at the Aga Khan Academy Dhaka took part in the Big Draw festival – an international drawing festival to promote drawing as a universal language for learning, expression, and invention. This year, the festival’s theme was ‘drawing with senses’ where students explored folk art and art techniques.  

The students composed four types of artworks: collage, mark-making, folk style and acrylic on canvas and filled the Academy premises with colourful exhibitions. The young artisans reflected on their journey from the outer to the inner world through the drawings and illustrated their perception of the surroundings through taste, smell, sight, touch and sound.       

Grade 7 students' art works at the Big Draw Festival 2024

“I have gained a great amount of knowledge from this exhibition,” said Raeid Rahbaar Ahmed, another Grade 7 student. “Firstly, I learned to draw with my senses and express myself through my artworks. Moreover, my communication skills improved by presenting the drawings to the enthusiast connoisseurs.” 

The exhibition was inaugurated by Mr Harun Ar Rashid, assistant professor of the Department of Graphic Design at the University of Dhaka. In addition, the event was graced by the Chairman of the Aga Khan Education Services, Bangladesh Mr Amyn Saleh; the Resident Diplomat to Aga Khan Development Network Mr Munir M. Meerali; and the Chairman of the Aga Khan Foundation, Bangladesh Mr Sulaiman Ajanee.