Face paint: Adding colour to festivity

A young woman getting her face painted on Pahela Baishakh

As Rokeya Sultanta, Associate Professor in the Printmaking Department of the Institute of Fine Arts (IFA), Dhaka University put it, "Face paint has traditionally been used at weddings and other functions such as Pahela Falgun, Valentine's Day, Pahela Baishakh and New Year. One gets into a festive mood with this art."

Enthusiastic students of IFA tend to concur with Rokeya's view. Some estimate that they have painted as many as 500 faces in the run up to Pahela Baishakh. Says Nowrin Jahan, a third year student of IFA, "I have an affinity for nature in my face painting and my favourite motifs are flowers." Other enthusiasts such as Mohin Joyes and Romel Mamunul Hoque express similar sentiments and point out that around 10 IFA students got sponsorship from Starship company for face painting.

These students are well equipped to practice this 'fun' art because of their exposure to basic design, says Rokeya. "The upcoming artists have the courage and will power to carry out face painting," she asserts.

Face painting goes back a long way. From ancient times, it has been used for hunting, religious reasons, and military reasons (such as camouflage and membership in a military unit). In modern times it is a common source of entertainment at county fairs, large open-air markets (especially in Europe and the Americas), and other locations where children and adolescents are present.

There are two basic kinds of face paint in the West: designs that include the emblems of favourite sports teams, cartoon characters, and other appealing designs. Still others seek to colour the face so as to indicate solidarity with a cause, usually the outcome of a sporting contest or membership in a group. Many theme parks have booths scattered around where a person can have a design painted on their face.

Akin to face painting are the 'instant tattoos', paint or ink-based designs that are put on as one unit and removed by means of water, alcohol, soap, or another mild solvent.

With Pahela Baishakh over, gaily coloured faces will reappear on the next festive occasion.