Naeem Mohaiemen's 'Midnight's Third Child' Examines Bangladesh's Art History and Artist Roles

Naeem Mohaiemen's collection, titled 'Midnight's Third Child,' delves into the art history of Bangladesh following its independence from Pakistan in 1971, referring to the nation as the 'forgotten' third offspring of partition. He investigates the impact of partition on artists, which has negatively affected both society and the art community. Since the 1970s, Bangladesh has evolved into a 'laboratory for every significant developmentalist theory,' garnering international interest. Mohaiemen critiques the constraints of art education, the prevalence of English in local art publications, and the phenomenon of poverty tourism. He emphasizes the Chittagong Hill Tracts and Adivasi communities, pointing out that art is often viewed as a luxury. The collection, published by Nokta for Rs1,010, aims to provide insights into contemporary art histories in Bangladesh. Mohaiemen was nominated for the Turner Prize in 2018.