Regaining the unconscious

Regaining the unconscious is about reclaiming the territory that lies beyond our awareness. This is how you can define the works of Mustafa Zaman. Exhibiting the artwork of Mustafa Zaman “Regaining the unconscious” is inaugurated at the “Alliance Francaise” last 29th of May.

Elements and energy, these two are the soul of the universe. Mustafa Zaman's works reflect the both ends of the spectrum. Combinations of elements and energy can create miracles through art and sculpture; “Regaining the unconscious” proves that unconditionally. The exhibition offers a fresh look that places perception before understanding and institution before meaning. It is also about critiquing the highly regimented world order that modernism has so far unleashed. Creating illations of inanimate sculpture with reflection in the mirror, adjoining art and liquidity of metal such as mercury, exploring the dimension abstraction with painting, every aspect of his work will enable you to feel the uncharted territory of imagination.

“I don't know how it is possible. To create something this unique the artist must have to have a brilliant imagination. His works are different and the exhibition reflects a totally new vive of modern art” Nilonjon Roy, student of Dhaka University.

As Thomas Merton said “Art enables us to find ourselves and lose ourselves at the same time.” Regaining the unconscious will give you the same experience. Against the canvas of reality and actions Mustafa Zaman's work brings out the unconsciousness of our mind. The unconscious and the unthinking is the vast external domain on which the artist willingly wagers his art and ideas. Mustafa Zaman's exhibition, which runs till the 11th of June 2009 at the Alliance Francaise, is a treat for those who would like a peek into an intellectual artist's imagination.

By Zabir Hasan
Venue: Alliance Francaise, Dhaka

You can't stop complaining about kids these days. They nag, they demand, they're lazy and they're hooked. They're wired to their computers or engulfed by their television sets. The less tech savvy ones are probably buried under their homework and parental pressure. You look back to the time when you were of their size and remember all the good ol' times with kite flying, football in mud or just running around for the heck of it. With a deep remorse, you wonder whether the nanotech oriented children will ever know what it was like to play 'real' football in the fields, not on their PS3s.

To bring back the disappearing traits of the best times of our lives, ReSketch in collaboration with Maker recently organized a kids' day camp. Sponsored by DANO with the endorsement of Arla Food Ingredients Bangladesh and radio partnered by ABC Radio; the 'DANO Kidz Day Camp' was a festival to remember. Held in the premises of St. Joseph Higher Secondary School on Friday, 28th May 2009, the event was organized with the notion of reviving the games and fun of childhood that are being swiftly replaced by computer games.

DANO Kidz Day Camp took place in two shifts: between 9 to 12 noon and later, between 3 to 6pm. The idea was to involve as many children as possible into the daylong festival by giving them the flexibility to drop by at either of the time slots according to their convenience. Under the shed of St. Joseph School, the camp offered children with the opportunity to learn how to make and fly kites, watch puppet shows, listen to local fairy tales or simply play on a huge snakes and ladders board placed on the floor. Looking through the bioscope, learning origami, drawing cartoons, playing with marbles or listening to a crazy parrot predicting whether you'll pass from 2nd Grade to the 3rd, the camp was truly an amalgamation of vibrant colours and juvenile festivities. The option of simply running from one end to another and being able to play literally any game of their choice, the place was found swarming with excited children about the height of yours truly's hips.

The camp not only allowed children to have fun, but created scope for learning. While at one end, balloons were being thrown into the air; the other hand was showcasing a documentary on the '71 Independence War, courtesy of Liberation War Museum. The tables at this displayed diving gears, information of mountain climbing, books for children on the Liberation War and other fairy tale compilations. It also had science projects to eloquent on simple concepts and gave the whiz kids a chance to experiment with their favourite subject.

From morning to evening, St. Joseph was found buzzing with children of all shapes and sizes. Jumping, playing, chattering lively, munching popcorn and learning, the DANO Kidz Day Camp truly accomplished what it had set out for. The participating children felt the thrill of childhood games beyond the realms of their PCs and from the crowd that showed up, it was easily understood that they absolutely loved it! In fact, accompanying parents were having a tough time dragging their kids back home! As the parent of a 7-year old beautifully summed it up, “I've never seen my boy so lively and active before. It's almost like he's found his long lost childhood, and I'm really glad DANO Kidz Camp has given him the opportunity to do so!”

By: Sabhanaz Rashid Diya
Photos: Sabhanaz Rashid Diya