Page 272 - Art and Crafts of Bangladesh

CONCEPTUAL ART AND NEW TRENDS 269

their own context and they influence the whole world and for them it means that this
context is international, it is the only context for the world.’ 10
Conceding to this linear dominant outlook of western art, he is hopeful about the
forms of the installation and performance arts of the Conceptual new trend. He thinks,
‘Installation has a tradition in the whole world. You have it in your ceremonial
activities. You have it in your feasts; you have it when you have a wedding or a
birthday. Everybody is a member in doing something there.’ 11
Thus it is important to have the awareness and exploration of local traditions related
to this newer trend of art. In this regard, interesting elements and materials can be
found in different social ceremonies and rituals that still exist, in this era of
globalization, among the rural and marginal urban dwellers, beyond the mainstream of
the country. Different elements of installation and performance are present in rural life
since time immemorial, and can be found on the occasions of fairs, weddings, year-
ending festivals, religious ceremonies, boat races, etc. In the urban life, old Dhaka has
its parallel cultural traditions – the Tajia procession of Muharram (fig. 6.17), worship
of Shiva-Parvati at the end of the month of Chaitra and Magan festival (fig. 6.16),
festivals marking the end of the month of Poush, Sakrain (Kite-flying festival), Eid
procession, etc. There have been such festivals and various installation and
performance-based presentations in daily social life from times long past.

Translated by Nusrat Jahan, Program Manager, Traidcraft Exchange, Bangladesh Country Office

Notes and References
1. Koichi Yasunaga, ‘Japan Introduction’, 2 Asian Art Biennale Bangladesh 1983, Dhaka 1983.
2. Loc.cit.
3. Syed Manzoorul Islam, 2 Man Installation Show, Abhijit & Bahar, catalogue published for show,
(Dhaka 1997).
4. Mahbubur Rahman, City Crisis, catalogue published for show, (Dhaka 1997).
5. Abul Mansur, ‘Recent Works, From Myth to Metaphor’, Recent Works: Dhali Al Mamoon,
(Chittagong 2004).
6. Mahmudul Hossain, “Nisar Hossain’s Art Exposition”, Art, a quarterly Journal, Vol.8:1, (Dhaka
1997), 30.
7. Pooja Sood, ‘Khoj: The Search Within’, in Pooja Sood (ed.), Khoj 1997, (India 1998).
8. Bonita Ili “Sthapona Shilper Prachin Itihas”, Drishyaroop, Annual Issue -1411-1412 (Bengali year),
(Dhaka 2006), 299.
9. Ibid.
10. Hamdi el Attar, “Interview of Hamdi el Attar”, Art, a quarterly Journal, Dhaka.
11. Ibid 15-16.