‘I was not a sculptor when I became a teacher of sculpture’, stated veteran sculptor of the country Hamiduzzaman Khan in an interview with New Age.
Hamiduzzaman joined the then Institute of Fine Arts(now Faculty of Fine Arts, Dhaka University) in 1970 as a faculty member of the newly founded department of sculpture. But his academic background was in drawing and painting.
It was his favourite teacher shilpacharya Zainul Abedin offered the position to Hamiduzzaman, and told him that he will become one of our best sculptors. Thus began Hamiduzzaman’s journey as a sculptor. He learnt while he taught his students.
His interest in sculpture grew stronger gradually as he came to realise that sculpture is a strong medium for expression. Hamiduzzaman’s five-month stay in different cities of Europe in 1969, his study in MFA in Baroda from 1974 to 1976, and an internship in America in 1982 paved the path for him to fame.
Hamiduzzaman shared that his confidence as a sculptor flew up when in the first national sculpture exhibition in 1976, he bagged the first prize for his sculpture Dorja(door).
As the sculptor’s fame flourished, Hamiduzzaman was appointed to make a sculpture inside Bangabhaban in 1981. Bangabhaban is still graced with the sculptor’s outstanding bronze sculpture tilted Bird Family.
In 1982, the artist held his first sculpture exhibition in the galleries of the faculty of fine arts. This exhibition that showcased the sculptor’s passion for the war of independence was another event that spurred his desire to cling to this form of fine arts.
From then on Hamiduzzaman worked on full swing that enabled to get his name permanently embedded in the country’s growing arena of sculpture.
His sculpture Steps has been placed in 1988 in the Olympic Park in Seoul, South Korea. In addition, three other sculptures by Hamiduzzaman are on display at different parks in South Korea.
Today, it is difficult for anyone who lives in Dhaka not to notice Hamiduzzaman’s sculptures at several intersections of the busy metropolis. Among his major sculptures are Sangsaptak at Jahangirnagar University, Jagroto Bangla at Ashuganj, Freedom-2008 at Gulshan, Fish at Farmgate, Smritir Minar at National University, Shantir Pakhi at Dhaka University, Pakhi at Baridhara, Bijoy Ketan at Dhaka Cantonment and many more.
A student of drawing and painting, Hamiduzzaman never abandoned drawing and painting. Among his twenty-five solo exhibitions, around eight exhibitions displayed his paintings and drawings. His paintings are kept both in home and abroad. In his favourite oil colour, he still paints regularly.
The artist also spoke of the present scenario of sculpture in the country. ‘You could count sculptors on your fingers even twenty years back, but now hundreds of professional and passionate sculptors are working and wonderful works are coming by their hands’, said the artist.
Hamiduzzaman Khan was born in 1946 in Kisoreganj. He has retired from the Faculty of Fine Arts as a professor of sculpture in 2012. He now teaches at the department of Architecture at North South University, and is working for his next solo exhibition in his studio at Badda.
-With New Age input
