The New Nation - Internet Edition

Story of Stitches: Aarong’s Nakshi Kantha exhibition

Sheikh Arif Bulbon

“A country's identity is intimately linked to the unique expressions of its culture through its arts and crafts. The Bangladeshi craftspeople have a long tradition of using the technology of the hand to create a vast array of crafts. Irrespective of the materials used, wood or bamboo, clay or stone, silk or cotton, our craftspeople have applied great ingenuity and skill to make out of mundane materials, works of great beauty and joy. Some of the crafts are peculiar to this deltaic plain such as the Nakshi Kantha, Muslin and Jamdani, Filigree work, and many more. We have also, from time to time, brought in crafts and techniques from other parts of the subcontinent, for example, tie dye, which our craftspeople have creatively adapted and made their own. Aarong has helped to successfully develop these and many other crafts through research and innovation in design and technique with a constant focus on quality improvements," said Tamara Abed, Director of Aarong and Ayesha Abed Foundation (AAF), at the inauguration of a two-week long Nakshi Kantha exhibition organised by Aarong to celebrate the 30 years of Aarong at National Art Gallery of Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy.

The exhibition was inaugurated on July 15. Prof Mohammad Kibria, Tamara Abed, Muhammad A (Rumee) Ali, Managing Director of BRAC Enterprise, Chandra Shekhar Shaha, Consultant of the 30 the anniversary exhibition series of Aarong, among others, were present at the inauguration.

Apart from Kanthas collected from different parts of the country, the exhibition will show off an extensive collection of Aarong products using different traditional Nakshi Kantha. These items include saris, shalwar kameez, 'Taaga,' shirts and kurtas for men, Punjabis, shawls, bed sheets, cushion covers, wall hangings, lamp hangings and shades and jewellery boxes and others.

In 1978, Aarong and its production centre AAF took the initiative to revive the country-old traditional art of Nakshi Kantha. Over the past 30 years, through its persistent efforts in promoting Nakshi Kantha art, Aarong has empowered rural women and given them financial independence.

On the day of inauguration, eight women artisans selected by AAF were awarded the 'Master Craftsperson Award' for their excellence and dedication in 'Kantha Stitching.' A crest and a cheque worth Tk 20,000 was given to each of the artisans by Aarong.

Tamara Abed said, "Aarong's mission is twofold - to develop and promote the traditional crafts of Bangladesh and to create jobs for rural women. Aarong now supports the livelihoods of 60,000 artisans, more than half of whom are employed by AAF's 13 production centres and 653 subcentres."

Aarong' relationship with Nakshi Kantha has been one over almost 30 years. Aarong recognises that craft is as much an economic activity as it is a cultural one and that the centre of the craft development process is the expansion of the market opportunity. Hence Aarong has made a continuous effort in linking crafts to fashion and to the market, both at home and abroad, said Tamara.

At present, more than 16,000 women artisans at Aarong are earning a sustainable livelihood through the art of Nakshi Kantha alone. Usually this art of stitching was embroidered on layers of discarded saris with the depiction of traditional motifs and forms. The magnificent portrayal of the life in the rural areas gradually became an embroidered art on the urban walls.

Through innovative designs and uses created by Aarong, the traditional Nakshi Kantha is now worn as designer clothing, used in handbags and many other adornments and items of daily use.

The exhibition will end on July 29 from 9:00am to 7:00pm.

Charukala 87

Art & Culture Report

They have started their journey to move here and there in Fine Arts Institute when they were students of first year of then Pre-Degree in 1988. On that year an exhibition was held on the wall of the Institute of Fine Arts (IFA) to respect and touch the dream of Shilpacharya Zainul Abedin where 27 budding artists took part. They thought this on the veranda of Shahnewaj Hall of Dhaka University during that time. Then 19 years. After many reminiscences, pains and cries, a group of artists of that time gathered at Zainul Gallery of the IFA with their works to organise a group exhibition there.

A group exhibition of batch of 1987 at IFA organised an exhibition titled 'Charukala 87' at Zainul Gallery. The exhibition was ended recently.

Participant artists are - Amal Das, Managing Director of Colourview Ltd, Aminul Hasan Litu, Head of Design of Rangs Industries Ltd, SM Zayedur Rahman, Managing Director of Shape and Form, Debashish Paul, Assistant Professor of Ceramics Department of IFA of Dhaka University, Nobina Latif, Teacher of Sunnydale School, Nazib Tareque, Editor of T-Shirt Publication, Nazia Sharmin, Teacher of Scholastica School, Uttara, Nurun Nahar Supti, Teacher of Sunnydale School, Masudur Rahman, Managing Director of Vertical, Raquib Anam Anjan, Creative Director of Adcom Ltd, Lovely Chakma, Teacher of Aga Khan School, Shrabon Khan, Australian expatriate and Sonia Ishrat Jahan, Head of Print, Screen Print of Fabric.

Participant artists presented works on watercolour, pastel, collage, digital print, tempera, pencil sketch, stoneware, acrylic, terracotta and oil colour.

They expressed spring, women, thoughts of abstract, devotion, reflection of nature of Bengal and various lines in their works.

The exhibition was sacrificed for the treatment of their colleague Minoti Chishim, who has been suffering from cancer, said Sonia Ishrat, one of the participant artists.

Penta Dots’ ceramics exhibition

Sheikh Arif Bulbon

“Ceramics is one of the oldest art forms of the country. I was exposed to ceramics work before my studies when I had come to the Fine Arts Institute for coaching before the admission test. Then filling in certain requirements of measurement, I made squares and made a design from them. Some of the tiles are simply burnt, while others have glaze on them," said Fouzia Abedin Tani, one of the participants of the exhibition and a 3rd year student of the Institute of Fine Arts (IFA) of Dhaka University, while expressing her ceramics works at the 1st ceramics exhibition of five friends under the banner of 'Penta Dots' at Zainul Gallery of the IFA.

The exhibition was ended recently. Prof Syed Abul Kalam Azad, Treasurer of Dhaka University, artist Abdus Shakoor Shah, Director of IFA, Md Rabiul Islam, Assistant Professor of Ceramics Department of IFA, among others, were present at the inauguration.

Besides Tani, other participants were Mohammad Ronnie Habib, ASM Abdullah, Sharif Ahmed and Anowar Hossain Jony. Alls were students of the Department of Ceramics of the IFA of Dhaka University and had put in their combined efforts in the display of art objects in burnt clay.

Tani said, "I've brought in folk designs with ornate floral motifs consisting of trees, flowers, fish and birds. This is my third year at the Institute and I'm happy to study under my teachers like Debashish Pal, Rabiul Islam and Shapan Shikdar."

Touching on the difficulties that she faces, she said, "Firing is a hassle - the processing of the clay, takes care and time. The ceramics students often go to the 'Pal Para' of Rayer Bazar as the ovens for clay firing there are adequate."

The students also try their hands in making household items, although in the exhibition only decorated mugs have been kept, said Tani.

Tani hopes to do sculpture in future. Sharif's works included a boat at sail, a bullock cart, a bearded flute player, houses, a 'hukkah,' birds and a sunburst. All these symbols from village life were placed on a single frame.

Ronnie had different portrayals of swans near the river bank, green monsters in the shape of gnomes with spindly arms, hooked nose and drawn together in a way that spoke of despair.

Abdullah had items like faces of queens, fish, doves and animals.

Jony's works included a portrait in green, brown and beige. He brought in a couple with slanted eyes, seen embracing each other. There was also a portrait of an eastern bride, complete with jewellery.

Another of his work was a night scene. He dealt with motifs of fish, elephants, birds and horses. Abstract work with rectangles, semicircles and lines were also included in his attempts.

Despite all designs and motifs were experimental, but had unique nature in sense of the artistic view.

Sobhyata’s Sahitya Adda held

Art & Culture Report

Sahitya Adda, a gathering, was held organised by Sobhyata, art literature and socio-economic research and publication organisation, at Words and Pages in Gulshan in the city recently.

The programme was attended by writers and intellectuals including former Adviser to the Caretaker Government Prof Zillur Rahman Siddiqui, novelist and short story writer Hasan Azizul Hoque, Prof Hayat Mahmud, Dwizen Sharma, novelist Jyotiprokash Dutta, poet Kazi Rosy, Deputy Editor of daily Shomokal Mozammel Hossain Monzu, Director General of Bangla Academy Dr Syed Mohammad Shahed, novelist Ata Sarker, Joint Editor of daily Jugantor Sohrab Hasan, Chief Executive Officer of Alokit Nogori Aminur Rahman Rana, Editor of Orthobitto Raqibul Hasan, Director of Patua Quamrul Hasan Art School Anwar Hasan Babu and artist Mubasshir Majumder.

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