A nine-day solo ceramic art exhibition of artist Akhtarun Nahar Ivy, jointly arranged by Gallery Cosmos and Bangladesh National Museum, is underway at the Nalinikanta Bhattasali Gallery of Bangladesh National Museum, Shahbag in the capital, report UNB.  Former Executive Chairman of the Board of Investment Syed Abdus Samad, South Korean Ambassador to Bangladesh Ahn Seong-Doo, eminent artist Hashem Khan and renowned historian and Bangabandhu Chair Professor Muntassir Mamoon jointly inaugurated the exhibition on Monday.

 With her three forms of ceramic pieces, terracotta compositions, potteries and ceramic paintings, seasoned artist Akhtarun Nahar Ivy demonstrated her artistry through the exhibition, and her success in her experiments using clay as medium.

 The subjects of her compositions are people’s life in general, life-struggles and nature.

 Addressing the inaugural session, Syed Abdus Samad said art is better than life as the art can stop time. “Human beings die, but the art never does.”

 He also hailed the artist as very creative.

 Ahn Seong-Doo said art is a unique and powerful tool which connects people and culture across continents. “The famous Gandhara Art is a prominent example which has connected Europe and Asia together. This unique blend of Greco-Roman and South Asian Buddhist styles was developed in the Peshawar region in ancient times, which was then dispersed over Asia, allowing the entire world to share the same cultural heritage,” he said.

 He said art is also a history of people’s life which transcends time and space. And clay is one of the oldest forms of art which is ubiquitous in every civilisation.

 Developed in various styles, the clay art represents culture, society, and people of different times, the South Korean envoy said. “Akhtarun Nahar’s ceramic art exhibition also conveys the life and struggles of people, which I believe is a truly meaningful occasion for us to all ponder over the art of people, culture, and society,” he added.

  Hashem Khan said Bangladesh’s arts earned fame in the international arena mainly due to terracotta. “The mural at the Swadhinata Stambha (Independence Monument) in Suhrawardy Udyan was made of terracotta artworks depicting the history of the 1971 Liberation War.”

 Muntassir Mamoon said Ivy has been able to strongly depict her ideas in her terracotta compositions.

 National Museum Director General Faizul Latif Chowdhury delivered the welcome speech.

 In her reaction, Ivy said pottery is an oldest but important form of art. “We’ve known our heritage, society, culture and civilisation through potteries and ceramic arts. I’m proud of being an artist of this form.”

 Ivy has chosen clay as the medium for her art. Although clay is a very common material, to prepare it as an ingredient for creating art is not a simple task.

 Using some realistic figures, some designs, and abstract forms, Ivy tried to create a very comprehensible display in all of her arts. The artist with her use of shapes, design and glaze has demonstrated her aptitude in her works.

 Like a skilled artist, she used colours, sketches and curving, brought up various dimensions through clay and created rich masterpieces.

 The exhibition will remain open from 9:30am to 5:30pm from Saturday to Thursday while from 2:30pm to 7:30pm on Friday till October 10. l

Photo l courtesy