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Victory reflected through sculptures

15 December 2005, 18:00 PM
LIFESTYLE
By Fayza Haq
15 December 2005, 18:00 PM
(Left) Shangshaptak at Jahangirnagar University (1989), (Right) Bijoy Gantha at Mymensingh Cantonment (2001)
Victory Day is a special event for artist Hamiduzzaman Khan. In a nostalgic mood, he recalls those momentous days since the Liberation War: " After 1971, I tried to understand sculpture in depth and began this art form at that time. I've dwelt on the subject of the Liberation War, pondering over it in many ways; like other artists, I realised early that the subject was vital and one of great consequence. It was a great source of inspiration for many of the Bangladeshi artists. I worked in my own 'language', sculpture, i.e., and I believe that sculpture is a powerful medium: it can express thoughts in a manner, perhaps more powerful than other medium in the fine arts. For 12 years I thought about the Liberation War and have done many works on it . I like to portray my subjects in metal, beginning with bronze (this was done in wax, and next cast in bronze), This was while I was in Baroda University, India, for four years, doing my Masters. I was then experimenting on that theme." His thesis had beenRemembrance '71, and Hamiduzzaman had done 50 pieces on the Liberation War.

Returning to Dhaka in 1982, Hamiduzzaman had his solo show at the Institute of Fine Arts, Dhaka University and the subject was the Liberation War. He displayed some of the pictures from his Remembrance '71 series. At that time he had a large commissioned work at Sylhet called Hamla, in which the bronze figure was 11 ft. high. There was a sea of viewers at the display. Shortly he did an installation based on his pet theme, and this too had drawn large crowds. In 1988 he did a sculpture in the Jahangirnagar University campus, in front of the library there. Always working with a purpose, then wanting to educate the young viewers at the university, he made a sculpture, again in bronze (sheet). This was 20 ft high x 15 ft and the subject was an armed force, moving on to the war front. It included many figures, both standing and seated, and it was called Shangshaptak. This stands on a brick pedestal. It took him six months to complete the work, and he enjoyed every bit of the time, working in the Institute of Fine Arts. It was installed in 1989. The work was dramatic and effective.

For 12 years the sculptor continued practicing on the same beloved theme; he made numerous monuments. One such work in the Mymensingh Cantonment, was in stainless bronze; the next brought in Cubist forms: Another depicts two rectangles at the back, a hexagon, with two crosses at the back ( 19 ft. high, and placed on a red brick pedestal) at Tangail Cantonment.

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His more recent work, in 2002 shows a modern shape, and this is found in the UTC Bhaban (Panthapath), and is done with steel pipes. This again depicts a soldier and includes a superb depiction of the subject in action. This took four months to complete, and the sculptor had a studio within the building premises. The figure is 30 feet high. The artist said," I had no problems, rather, I was inspired by the people who wrote to me congratulating me. I had a sense of satisfaction with my work." The last sculpture pieces that he has done are found scattered within the Dhaka University campus. These are mostly in brilliant red, again Cubist forms and shapes.

Hamiduzzaman Khan, a sculptor of international repute, had been a professor of the sculpture section, Fine Arts Department, Dhaka University till last year, ending a nine year term.