The New Nation - Internet Edition

Sheikh Arif Bulbon

Although practising sculpture in Bangladesh is not frequent like other countries, still now a huge number of students of the Fine Arts Institute and colleges are eager to learn from the sculpture. But so many complexities and barriers in the field of sculpture make obstacle for the sculptors to continue their works. The high price of the material costs and a long-term process to create to make a sculpture make barrier to them. Despite having these barriers the country has found a legendary sculptor - Hamiduzzaman Khan. He is not only an idol of the students of sculpture but also a classical creator by virtue of his ability of creation. He has carved a path distinctly his own in our art arena with significant forms, themes and variations of work.

Hamiduzzaman is always searching for the mysterious chapter of creation in his voyages through the vast diversity of the nature. His inspired images remind a symbiotic relationship with nature, a marriage of landscape and a vision that enables the artist to use the most natural views. It is one of the significant characters of the works of Hamiduzzaman Khan.

Recently first painting exhibition of Hamiduzzaman Khan titled 'The Intimate World of Colour' was held at the Gallery of the Asiatic Society, Bangladesh at Nimtali in the city. The fortnightly exhibition ended on September 6.

About his working style Hamiduzzaman said, "As for the paintings, when I plan out my work, I make sketches and put watercolour washes over them and these form the paintings that you see, that are included in the exhibition and form a backdrop for the sculpture pieces. Just as one can change shapes via a computer one can do these paintings in different ways and add the shapes and colours at will. These are my basic dialogues between me and forms and colours, which I make innumerable times until I get shapes and sizes that I require between me and forms and sculpture. Therefore, the paintings and drawings have definite and important relationships with my sculpture. I love watercolour, as I feel comfortable in making my brush strokes in it. The strokes are like sculptural forms, I then to use blue as it stands for peace, while the vermilion is naturally colour of radiance."

Over the last four decades, Hamiduzzaman has been constantly trying to give a new language to his works. When we closely observe his paintings, we can easily recognise his similarity for various unfamiliar and familiar forms. He likes to play with nature, form and structure orientations. He always tries to ensure an intense combination between colours and forms. Colour, texture, visible and invisible lines are the most predominant aspects of his paintings.

In this exhibition, Hamiduzzaman has done a number of faces - some seem to be primitive, tribal, and unfamiliar. The faces are not identical and each face expresses a unique explanation and look. The face is the most significant part of the human body and it can express the language of the mind vividly. The facial expressions are superb and impressive. His composition is styled with geometric shapes and lines. In creating so many faces in different perspectives, Hamiduzzaman has again demonstrated his unrivalled creativity. The exhibition is mainly significant for one reason that art lovers can enjoy painting and watercolour simultaneously.

In the inauguration of the show an autobiographical book of the sculptor Hamiduzzaman Khan titled 'Vascor Hamiduzzaman Khan: Jibon O Karma' by Sumanta Roy was launched. Whole life sketches, description of the works of Hamiduzzaman and published features and articles on Hamiduzzaman Khan are mentioned in the book.