Masks that Make You Laugh and Cry

Mask by Kazi Rakib

Made of clay, wood, metal, burnt clay, cardboard and glass, the masks displayed at the 'Mukh o-Mukhosh' exhibition at Kaya Gallery in Uttara are indeed mind-boggling. The twelve artists taking part in this grand expose have put their unique perspectives in making these masks.
Kazi Rakib, for instance, is more interested in realistic expressions. The mask is of a real face - the left side is dark, the right side is of burnished gold and has white added to the burnt sienna for effect. The teeth are visible through the red lips. The forehead is of gleaming gold, and so is the left ear.
Born in 1955, Rakib has won two awards, one of the 1991 National Exhibition, Shilpakala Academy, and one of Osaka Triennal, Osaka, Japan. 1991.
Masuda Kazi's mask is that of a woman, in green and blue. The lips are vermilion red and there is a blue opened flower, highlighting the face along with its curling stem which rests on the left. Masuda did her Bachelor of Fine Arts, from Rajshahi Art College. Like Rakib's work the mask has a stylised effect.
Saidul Haque Juise has the endearing face of an owl. In fact, Juise specialises in masks, and has studied masks in the Far East, Venice and all over Africa and Latin America. He tells you how masks were worn by the ladies of leisure in the time of 'Romeo and Juliet' and in the High Renaissance time, so that the identity of the wearer would be undisclosed.

Mask by Md Abdul Momen

“Masks have been there for centuries”, says Juise, a popular maker of masks. “In jatra and plays, puppets and masks were prevalent for centuries in places like Uzbekistan and Australia”, he explains. “Mask making is an ancient art, and imitates or distorts the face of man or animal. Even though we have a Muslim culture, there need not be hesitation to go back to it to enrich our life, such as during Pahela Boishak.”
Masks have been used during religious ceremonies, as toys for children in Africa, China and Middle Eastern countries. Even the collectors of honey, in the Sunderbans, wore masks, when they went to work, says Juise. The best masks, he says, are made in Mexico which has the best lacquer work. The most common of these is that of 'Dance of the Dandies' and 'Dance of the Little Old Man'.
Juise's bird has large eyes and a meaningful beak. The bird's face is orange and red. The top is saffron yellow with a motif.
Juise has a Masters of Fine Arts, from Dhaka. His coveted awards include 1991 artist Quamrul Hassan Memorial Award, Dhaka, and 1994 Honorable Mention, in the 10th National Young Arts' Exhibition, Shlipakala Academy, Dhaka.
Faruk Ahamad, who has an MFA from the Institute of Fine Arts Dhaka in 1990, and three awards from the Shilpakala Academy, has a dark, working woman's torso for his subject. Her lockets and hanging earrings are red. Her facial features, belly and part of her sari in which her body rests on, are a reddish tone. The rest of her body and face, sans limbs, are a dark, burnished hue.

Mask by Kazi Masuda

Debashish Pal, born in 1971, has awards from the Shilpakala Academy and Institute of Fine Arts, University of Dhaka. In the ceramic piece he has the head of a bald, moustachioed man and with seven followers done in shining black and burnt sienna. His presentation is powerful and striking.

Rajaul Islam Lovelu’s mask

Rejaul Isam Lovelu, well-known for his wood work, has created an American Indian, complete with coloured feathers sticking out from the top, and wearing a cover of long cloth like coat. The eyes and lips along with the nose are outlined carefully. Rows of coloured beads and conch shells take the place of the rest of the body. His face is painted like that of a warrior prince out for battle.
Abdul Momen Milton's female mask has thick outsized lips and enormous eyes. There is a carved fish  and the cheeks are covered with knots and crosses.
Abdur Rahim's creation is the face of a wise man in burnt amber with a carved cap on top. He has a Masters from the University of Rajshahi and has bagged awards like the Best Award in Sculpture, Rajshahi Shilpakala Academy, 2000.
Pintu Chandra Deb who has a Masters from the Dhaka University, has an elongated mask in burnt amber, where the nose follows the make of the elongated growth of beard.
Amit Kuch's mask appears to be made of carved wood, and it dons a tilak on the forehead. Debdas Maladars with his MFA from Visva-Bharati, has interesting curves and hollow bits. Sandip Kumer Debnath has two awards to his credit.
“Joler Gan”, an avant–garde band played their remarkable music to inaugurate 'Mukh O Mukhosh' at Gallery Kaya on Friday, May 16.
The exhibition will last till May 30.