Hope rekindles for terracotta art in Bangladesh
Hope rekindles for terracotta art Faizul Khan Tanim writes about the recent attempts to rev ive this glorious art form T erracotta, often mistaken as clay tiles, is actually baked earth (pora maati). There are specific themes and subjects based on which terracotta art is produced. A variety of items is made of terracotta – plaques, wall tiles, lamps, pitchers, flower vase, pottery, coin bank, candle-stands, dolls, and more. The designs of these burnt clay products reflect folk tales, picture of everyday life, artistic symbols denoting peace, love and understanding. In Bangladesh, some of the most contemporary and prominent pieces of terracotta art are dominant on plaques and murals portraying our Liberation War–or rural Bangladesh depicting many birds, fish and animals and agricultural activities. Members of the potters’ community, known in Bangla as kumars (formally known as kumbhokars) who usually bear the title Pal, are generally found in large settlements in mrit pollis (potter...