Cultural Correspondent
A terracotta exhibition started on July 15 at the Bangladesh National Museum (BNM) in the city. The exhibition hosts nearly one hundred and fifty pieces of artifacts crafted by ingenious terracotta artists from both the ancient and contemporary generations. It will continue till July 26. Cultural Minister Asaduzzaman inaugurated the exhibition as chief guest. Faizul Latif Chowdhury delivered the welcome speech at the inaugural event. Professor Dr Mostofa Sharif Anowar, Department of Ceramics, University of Rajshahi, delivered the vote of thanks while Professor Rafiqun Nabi presided over the event.
Bangladesh National Museum and Department of Ceramics of University of Rajshahi are joint organisers of the exhibition. National Museum has put on display 100 pieces from their collection of ancient terracotta arts and students of University of Rajshahi have contributed with the remaining 50 pieces, which are their own original creations.
Terracotta art was prominent in Bengal way back in the third century BC. In the years up till now clay has been used for a largely number of diverse necessities that include making of utensils, architectural sites, artifacts, sculpture and even carvings in religious sites like mosques, temples, monasteries. Asaduzzaman Noor reflected on this prolonging list of richness of terracotta arts and noted that the art is dying at modern age. He emphasised on arranging more ventures like this from the very grassroot level to reclaim the falling glory of Bengal’s terracotta.
