Drama in driftwood

Shatorka by Shamiran Chandra Datt

As a child Shamiran was fond of sitting under branches of trees and roaming in the woods, and from there he developed his love of roots and branches. Priyobhashini's display, Kichui Jabena Phela stirred him on when he was a student . He has been a student of commerce since his school days and this collection of driftwood is his passion. In his home in Chandpur, and now in Gazipur there are plenty of trees to inspire him.

He preserves his driftwood with Mobil oil, kerosene and tunt (mulberry). He has hired a flat with three rooms to house his collection. At present he has abandoned his accounting studies and cultivates his passion for natural sculpture. He hopes to go into handicrafts in future.

One massive black piece depicts a bee chasing a bear with his coat glistening and his tongue hanging out. The driftwood looks so real one would think that someone had carved it out with a knife, keeping its dark brown, glossy coat in mind. The piece with the scales of a fish, with fins and gills, has been partially worked upon. The rest -- mouth, tail and body are there naturally. There is then the elephant with its eye, tusk and mouth. There is also a man and woman with flowing hair. Next there is the human figure overcome by fear, in the shape of black clouds.

Shotorka is a remarkable likeness of a rabbit, sitting carefully, with ears drawn back, appearing to be twitching its nose. A huge open jaw of a fish confronts us with all its teeth in place. We learn that the teeth have been carved out of two branches of the driftwood to give the effect of a wide jaw. The rest of the body flows out of the jaw.

Bedemey presents a gypsy gaily traipsing with a baby in her arms and a sack on her back. Another piece presents an exotic black bird with a huge beak and tail, perched up on one leg all ready to fight. There is then the presentation of two snakes twirling together, attacking each other. One is confronted with a figure holding on to a weight, and the load could be that of worries or sins. There is then a driftwood that is semi-abstract. It conjures up the figure of a woman trying to hold on to many weights and to wrestle with some of them. A mermaid's figure then draws one's attention with its scaly legs that ends in a waving tail.

Though his work is a passion, Shamiran says that it is not always easy going. He says that without the support of his family and friends he would never have been successful.