'Chitrito Mritshilpo': A trip to memory lane

As I reminisce about my childhood, I recall the delightful moments when I received sweets and clay toys during Rath, a monsoon festival celebrated in Kushtia. The sweet aroma and unique textures of those sugary, white, and transparent treats are still vivid in my memory. However, my mother, whose hometown is in Kushtia, holds even lovelier memories of these clay toys and sugary delicacies. Our recent visit to Bengal Shilpalay on the closing day of "Bangladesher Lokoshilpo: Chitrito Mritshilpo" took both my mother and me back to our cherished childhood.

Photo: Aishwarya Raihan

Under the guidance of the esteemed researcher Prof Nisar Hossain, Bengal Shilpalay organised an exhibition to pay homage to the traditional folk art of Bangladesh known as Chitrito Mritshilpo, denoting low-relief work and painting on clay crafts. This art form teeters on the brink of extinction, making this exhibition a crucial initiative to raise awareness and introduce it to the younger generation. Many of the showcased artworks are part of the personal collections of luminaries, such as Shilpacharya Zainul Abedin, Nisar Hossain, Shishir Bhattacharya, and numerous others.

Photo: Aishwarya Raihan

The first-floor gallery at Bengal Shilpalay showcases a mesmerising array of clay sculptures from various regions of Bangladesh. Amongst them, you'll find different depictions of birds, elephants, elephant-riders, horses, horse-riders, tigers, musical instruments, and humans in various dynamic poses.

A significant portion of the low-relief works is dedicated to depictions of Goddess Durga, Goddess Lakshmi, and the avatar Krishna. In the innermost corner of the gallery, one can discover representations of the Hindu goddess Mansa, believed to protect people from snake venom. The intricate details of these crafts mesmerised me. It was as if a big chunk of rural life made its place to the urban landscape.

Photo: Aishwarya Raihan

Some of my personal favourites included vibrant pots in various sizes, with the tiniest one being the cutest. There were also circular arrangements of birds perched on twigs, reminiscent of what my mother cherished during her own childhood. There were bulls of different bright colours. Amidst the display, my mother and I were able to spot clay dolls from Kushtia standing alongside those from Dinajpur, Kishoreganj, Chattogram, Khulna, Jessore, Faridpur, Manikganj, Dhaka, Rajshahi, and many other districts across our homeland. The dedication of these craftsmen is vivid in the harmonious colour palettes, intricate detailing, and flawlessly smooth surfaces. On a nearby TV screen, the artisans were featured alongside their crafts.

Photo: Aishwarya Raihan

The exhibition "Bangladesher Lokoshilpo: Chitrito Mritshilpo" encapsulated a significant part of our cultural heritage and traditions. For my mother and me, it was a heartfelt journey down memory lane.