The display halls of Gallerikaya at Uttara in the city are adorned with colorful forms of facial shapes and motifs as a contemporary group exhibition of masks titled “Mukh O Mukhosh 3” is being held there.
Twenty renowned mask artisans are displaying their creation of over 100 exquisite masks done in wood, terracotta, glazed ceramics, glass, papier-mâché, Indian cork etc.
Bhabesh Chandra Malakar from Naogaon is a renowned mask artisan of rural Bangladesh who presents some of his best creations in this exhibition. Delicately striped and patterned paintings of red, mustard, white and black across the face provides the masks of Bhabesh with a typically rich indigenous look and stature, done in medium of Indian cork or shola.
Debdas Malakar, son of Bhabesh Malakar, and a top ranking post-graduate from Kala Bhavana of Vishwa Bharati at Shantiniketan in India, is also a notable participant with presentations quite attractive in colour, shape and motif. His slightly elongated characters in light brown shade bring in a medieval style reminding us of royal warriors and spiritual heads. Mask artist Bishwajit Paul is also a post graduate from the Shantiniketan institution. Their masks of terracotta in this exhibition are a few of the finest creations in Bangladesh.
Motifs of creatures also come through wood and metal works of artist Faruk Ahamad.
Painter Ashraful Hasan projects his personal thoughts on the close bonding between humans, trees and nature and their subsequent similar features through works of tree-like human faces.
Painted works done on transparent glass by mask artists Kazi Rakib and Masuda Kazi carry exceptional appeals at the gallery, especially to the young visitors.
The two have put eloquent facial expressions with designs and compositions to some of their smart characters in a way which has made the works simply flamboyant with fanciful and multicolored vibrancy.
Popular mask maker and artist, Saidul Haque Juise, a winner of Artist Quamrul Hassan Memorial Award, puts his facial models on show, made of folded paper and papier-mâché. The splendid creations of artist Juise reveal bright and stunning colours of red, white, yellow and black. Upon glazed surfaces could be noticed intricately painted fine depictions of various actions and characters full of dynamism and spirit. The talented mask maker also pastes miniature cut-out pieces of photo prints as collage or patchwork. The artist’s majestic elephant mask is a crowd-puller at the show.
Renowned artist Goutam Chakraborty presents a cluster of deep green and light brown masks which project a theme of socio-political sufferings and limitations. The lips of his masks are taped and closed.
Some exceptional and contorted shapes of semi-realistic and abstract human faces are seen in displayed wooden works of artists Kanok Kumar Pathak, Sumonto Kumar, Sandwip Debnath, Pintu Deb, Amit Kuch, Rajaul Islam and Khandakar Nasir, all of which reflect various common expressions of happiness, sorrow, fear and anger, apart from social oddities.
Artist Abdur Rahim displays purely realistic faces that demonstrate intellect, dedication and positive attitudes of humanity.
The only female artist of the event, Lafiza Najmin hangs a few collective works which are suggestive of plain mockery through light comical gestures by bald-headed elderly faces.
The exhibition, third of its kind, organised by Gallerykaya, is open from 11:00am to 7:30pm daily till 6 April.
News Source: The Daily Sun