Soma Surovi Jannat
b. 1990 in Dhaka, lives and works in Dhaka, Bangladesh
WINNER
Soma Surovi Jannat works with illustration, drawing and painting. Her work bridges different stimuli from her surroundings, aiming to depict what often are grim circumstances through an optimistic lens. Jannat transforms her two-dimensional works into installations, developing a visual language that allows the viewer to perceive the presence and correlation of different elements across varied circumstances. Numerous facets with individual storylines are joined to present a dominant narrative, which allows for the experience of a complex visual illusion. Interaction, collaboration and social engagement are characteristic of her working process.
Samdani Art Award 2020
The 2020 Samdani Art Award was curated by Philippe Pirotte, supported by Goethe Institut. The winner was selected by a jury chaired by Aaron Cezar of Delfina Foundation with Adrián Villar Rojas, Carolyn Christov-Bakargiev, Julie Mehretu, and Sunjung Kim. The 2020 Samdani Art Award was curated by Philippe Pirrote and the winner was Soma Surovi Jannat. This was also the first time a Jury Award was provided to Promiti Hossain.
Promiti Hossain
b. 1991 in Dhaka, lives and works between Dhaka, Bangladesh and Shantiniketon, India
JURY AWARD WINNER
Promiti Hossain’s artistic practice is comprised of drawing, painting and collage. Her work addresses her private experience as well as the subjectivity of gender. The constant news stories of gender-based violence against women and children, which she comes across daily, inspire her to draw attention to the struggles women face in the world. Her anatomic-style ink drawings of insects, flowers, and the female body allow marks and mistakes to represent the challenges women face in society.
SAMDANI ART AWARD 2020 SHORTLIST
Zihan Karim
Zihan Karim, Last Five Minutes of Xiluo Theatre, 2016–2020, video Installation
b. 1984 in Chattogram, lives and works in Chattogram, Bangladesh
Tahia Farhin Haque
ahia Farhin Haque, Shadows of A Wooden House, 2019–ongoing, photography.
b. 1996 in Dhaka, lives and works in Dhaka, Bangladesh
Sumana Akter
Sumana Akhter, Look Back – Part 2, 2018–2020, clay
b. 1983 in Narayanganj, lives and works in Narayanganj, Bangladesh
Sounak Das
Networking Realm, 2018–2020. mixed media installation
b. 1993 in Dhaka, lives and works in Dhaka, Bangladesh
Palash Bhattacharjee
Palash Bhattacharjee, Pass, 2019 Two channel video, installation
b. 1983 in Chattogram, lives and works in Chattogram, Bangladesh
Najmun Nahar Keya
Najmun Nahar Keya, The Spell Song, 2019, handwoven Tangail Sari
b. 1980 in Dhaka, lives and works in Dhaka, Bangladesh
Habiba Nowrose
Habiba Nowrose, Life of Venus, 2019–ongoing, photography
b. 1989 in Sirajganj, lives and works in Dhaka, Bangladesh
Faiham Ebna Sharif
Faiham Ebna Sharif, Cha Chakra: Tea Tales Of Bangladesh, 2016–ongoing, photography
b. 1985 in Dhaka, lives and works in Dhaka, Bangladesh
Ashfika Rahman
Ashfika Rahman, Redeem, 2019, mixed media installation
b.1988, Dhaka, lives and works in Dhaka, Bangladesh
Ariful Kabir
Ariful Kabir, 3.5 seconds, 2020, performance and installation, mixed media