Soulful rendition of soil
On an invitation from the Department of Ceramics (DOC), Faculty of Fine Art (FFA), University of Dhaka (DU), Professor Goutam Das, Head of the Department of Design, Visva-Bharati University, Shantiniketan, India came to DOC to conduct a week long “Terracotta Plaque” workshop in March 2016. Both the teachers and students of DOC took part in the workshop and engaged in their distinctive research-based artistic efforts to create works out of traditional trend using local soil.
A six-day exhibition, featuring the outcomes of the workshop, is now on display at Zainul Galley-1, FFA, DU. The workshop conductor Professor Goutam Das along with six teachers -- Dr. Azharul Islam Chanchal, Md. Robiul Islam, Swapan Kumar Sikder, Debashis Pal, Muhammad Subbir-Al Razy and Chinmaye Sikder – of DOC are showcasing two works each while seven MFA students -- Md. Shahabuddin Shek, Md. Anisul Haque, Farjana Islam, Tanjila Sumaia Siddiqye, Boijoyanti Sarkar, Mousumi Akter and Mabia Akter -- of the department are exhibiting one work each.
Eminent artist Professor Rafiqun Nabi, as chief guest, while Architect Dr. Abu Sayeed M Ahmed, Engineer Mainul Abedin and Professor Shishir Bhattacahrya, as special guests, inaugurated the exhibition on November 28.
The show is evocative of soulful rendition of soil. The artists' portrayal of beauty and diversity of nature, folk heritage, mythical connotations, life and its multifaceted expressions is praiseworthy.
Goutam Das, coming out of the conventional concepts of Terracotta, has interestingly presented fragmented forms of pottery like a teapot, jug, mug and kettle in one of his works. He has pulled out the flexible soil and pasted it beside to give a decorative motif in another work “Nature”.
Dr. Chanchal has incorporated relief process using dark colours to distinguish his subjects from surface of the work “Expression-1”. He uses light and shades with various textures.
Robiul Islam has kept the original colours and simplicity of the traditionally burnt terracotta. Graceful oriental lines, folk and natural forms are the main characteristics of his works. He has kept the flexibility of soil intact, the distinctive feature of his works.
Swapan Kumar Sikder follows the conventional process of making his ceramics. To distinguish his works from the surface, he just uses the traditional colour that is popularly used by the potters of Bangladesh.
Debashis Pal pursues many techniques like stoneware mural to produce his works. He also darkens some surface of his work to add depth to it. The prime feature of his works is to relay a message attaching screen print to his terracotta works.
Subbir-Al Razy has worked differently. He kept almost all the slabs flat with geometric textures and presented floral motifs and celebration of nature in his experimental work. Chinmaye Sikder has portrayed her works using folk motifs and animals like horse and elephant.
Shahabuddin has depicted an idea of dissent through a spirited poem of Kazi Nazrul Islam.
Tanjila Siddiqye has portrayed “Life in a Frame” that incorporates four female figures using coil technique in her terracotta works. The concept was developed from the Dokra casting method. She has used colours, symbols and forms to transform her work into a painting quality or a work of wooden craft that resembles the inertia of life.
Boijoyanti Sarkar's “Radha-Krishna”, Anisul Haque's “Rising Sun” and Farjana Islam's “Fish” are the fascinating features of the exhibition that ends today at 8pm.
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