An assimilation of heritage and modernity

China is the birthplace of pottery and porcelain as in English the word “China” means pottery and porcelain. On the other hand, ceramics is considered to be the most antique form of art heritage in Bangladesh as  plenty of diverse ceramic relics are found in  archaeological excavation in almost all regions of Bangladesh .

To return to their age-old heritage of ceramics and pottery, artists of Bangladesh and China are exhibiting their ceramic arts at Zainul Gallery, Faculty of Fine Art (FFA), University of Dhaka (DU). At the invitation of the Department of Ceramics, FFA, DU, four renowned Chinese ceramists and PhD researcher (Ceramics) at Tsinghua University, China --Zhang Lihong, Zhaolu, Dong Zhuangzhuang and Gao Yanhui are exhibiting their fine ceramic works together with  beautiful works by  six teachers – Dr. Azharul Islam Chanchal (Associate Professor and Chairman), Md. Robiul Islam (Associate Professor), Swapan Kumar Sikder (Associate Professor), Debashis Pal (Associate Professor), Muhammad Subbir-Al Razy (Assistant Professor) and Chinmaye Sikder (Assistant Professor) – of the Department of Ceramics.

Mohammed Rezaur Rahman, a Bangladeshi PhD pursuer at Tsinghua University, has coordinated in the joint initiative. Rezaur Rahman's Bone China work “Soft and Hard” is on display at the gallery. The work delineates the aesthetic natural beauty of Bangladesh. The depiction of floral rhythm surpasses all its compositional beauty. White or the presence of all colours gives a special quality to the work.

Chanchal's stoneware work “Vanguard of Civilization” is the best example of traditional modernity. He portrays four meditative portraits accompanied with different decorative square shaped terracotta plaques in four separate works.  He has incorporated various elements like glass with high quality soil. The composition, colours and ornamental beauty evoke the opulence of our civilization.

Gao Yanhui's porcelain “Lotus” is an amazing work. The ceramist mingled assorted forms on a lotus flower. As it is an educational and cultural exchange programme, she kept in mind the bonding between Bangladeshi and Chinese ceramists and of course the heritage of both countries. She consciously amalgamated the grace of porcelain with the beauty of the lotus of Bangladesh into her sculpture shared work. Nature and its living elements like frog together with traditional heritage and expressive ceramic sculptures are other aspects of the exhibition. The ceramists of both the countries will also take part in a workshop in Dhaka.

The exhibition was inaugurated yesterday by Professor AAMS Arefin Siddique, Vice Chancellor of DU. Professor Nisar Hossain, Dean, FFA; Gao Yanhui, ceramist, collector and member of Ceramic Association of Tangshan, China; Mohammad Abdur Rahim, Vice Chairman, DBL Group;  Azharul Islam Chanchal and Mohammed Rezaur Rahman spoke at the inaugural event.  The show is open from 11am to 8pm daily till January 20.