As part of the ongoing serigraph programme, titled ‘Nijeke Prokash Koro’, organised by The American Center of the US Embassy in Dhaka, a three-day (December 1-3) workshop was held at the Printmaking Department of Faculty of Fine Arts (FFA), University of Dhaka. On the opening day, Professor Mohammad Matlub Ali, Dean of FFA; guest artists Mira Friedlander and Ted Riederer and Anisuzzaman, head of the Printmaking Department, FFA, among others, spoke at the programme.
American artists — Mira Friedlander and Ted Riederer — are conducting the workshop. Anisuzzaman was the coordinator of the workshop at FFA.
A number of artists from different departments of FFA took part in the workshop. The participating artists are: Kanta Rahman, Ariful Islam, Kajol Das from Department of Graphic Design; Ruhul Amin Tarek, Zahid Hossain, Nadia Yasmin, Palash Baran Biswas from Department of Printmaking; Forhaduddin Masum, Sohel Ashraf Khan, Mehedi Anjuman from Department of Drawing and Painting; Jinnatun Nahar, Maharunnessa Nipa, Amit Nandi from Department of Craft.
Ted Riederer talked to The Daily Star about the workshop, the work process, themes etc. The artist said, “I’ve found the Printmaking Department here (FFA) to be world class. Drive down any street of this city, and you can see logos, street signs and posters — repeated continuously in advertisements. We take this barrage of information for granted. Mira and I are attempting to shake the students awake and grasp the power of images being repeated.
“To call us printmakers is only partially accurate. Printmaking to me is about recreating the same image in a series of perfect duplicates. We are teaching a relatively new technique which turns the old approach upside down. Our goal is to get traditional art students to loosen up and in the process apply an inspired approach to their method.
“Working at FFA, Dhaka University has had a profound effect on me. Much of my work explores the socio-political power of art. It is amazing to be working in a place that had such an important role during the Liberation War, where artists were able to help change the society. This is incredibly inspiring to me.”
The ‘Nijeke Prokash Koro’ programme will conclude with a public exhibition at the Dhaka Art Centre in Dhanmondi (December 8-17).
-With The Daily Star input
