A meeting of minds

The couple in a holiday spree

Fareha Zeba & Juise: We had been batch mates studying graphic arts in the Institute of Fine Arts. In our society the family doesn't encourage such a match as we were still very young, when we started out together. We just liked and admired each other. The fact that we got the chance to introduce each other to our respective families helped. We got married in 1985 with our families' consents.

TDS: Is it a plus point for you that you can encourage each other and provide constructive criticisms?

FZ: In a long time relationship you tend to depend and trust each other. We work independently and don't tend to comment about each other's work. It's only after the work is done that I call my husband to see my work, whereas Juise works on his own and doesn't care for other people's comments.

TDS: How do you regulate your work?

FZ: I work at school five to six days a week, tutor twice a week, and work in the evenings and night.

TDS: How much of time do you give each other on weekends and holidays?

FZ: Juise is busy with his masks and other creative ventures and I have my own work to see to. After that we go to see art exhibitions and visit our common friends. Also, we go out for vacations twice a year. Recently we went to Bali and before that we've recently been to Indonesia, Germany and UK. Next we hope to go to Burma. It was in Denmark that I came across my beloved subject of Frieda Kahlo from Mexico. Having common interests we often go to exhibitions.

TDS: Do you often have "addas" at your house?

JSH: We have friends who are our classmates as well as seniors and juniors, like Nissar, Tawfique. Lala Rukh, Shishir, Kajol, Wakilul Rahman, Habibur Rahman, Hashi Chakrabarty, Chandra Shekhar and Alok Roy. There is also the group who once worked with Mustafa Manwar along with teachers like Shahid Kabir who all form a friends' circle. Whenever we get the chance we get together. We discuss our work and exchange ideas and talk about our feelings and hopes of the past.

TDS: What other interests do you have apart from fine arts?

FZ: We read books and relax by having "addas" with our friends. We both experiment with food. We grow cactus and bonsai in the terrace and all around the house. Our other hobby is travelling. To make our existence more exciting we also quarrel.

TDS: Has Juise helped in your women's movement "Shako"?

JSH: I think it's wonderful that some women have got together to do something positive. I feel that I should help in every possible way so that they are successful in their venture.

TDS: Is it difficult for you to make a living as you don't go in for commercial art?

FZ: I have my teaching job and Juise goes in for interior décor, such as murals and making of masks, to supplement our earnings as artists.

TDS: Have you had common teachers and have you taken part in exhibitions together?

FZ: Our styles are totally different but we've taken part in joint exhibits. Both of us do figurative work: I deal with women's problems and Juise deals with political situations. I work on flat surface whereas Juise goes in for the sculpted effect. We've had common teachers like Shahid Kabir, Mahmudul Haque, Safiuddin Ahmed and Mohammed Kibria. Shahid Kabir taught us new ways of expressing our ideas and feelings; Mahbubul Amin stressed on drawing and Safiuddin Ahmed taught us the importance of grammar while Mohmmed Kibria showed us to look at our subjects afresh.

TDS: Do you feel that the local critiques are sometimes biased or vague or too harsh in their assessment of the artist's work?

FZ: Sometimes the critiques don't even talk to the artists and come to conclusions of their own. This might end up in hindering the artist instead of helping him develop.