Three generations' artistic legacy in focus

Renowned artist Kanak Chanpa Chakma, her mother Sarat Mala Chakma and her daughter Shiropa Purna are to exhibit their artworks at Gallery Athena, Uttar Badda in the capital. Attorney General Mahbubey Alam, eminent entrepreneur and former adviser to the caretaker government Rokia Afzal Rahman and eminent artist and media personality Mustafa Monowar will jointly inaugurate the three-week exhibition at 5:30pm on October 17.

“My mother is a traditional weaver and one of the senior most artisans of ben (Komor taant) in the hill region. She is a national award winner. Her basic work equipment will be exhibited at the group show titled, “Three Generations”. It will include chorka, natai, and the process of knitting from cotton. Viewers will also see the ben hung on the wall in a glass painting. It will look like a piece of artwork that can be collected from the gallery,” informed Kanak Chanpa Chakma.

“My paintings will be on display and as subjects of my painting I have chosen weaving,” says Kanak Chanpa Chakma who has received accolades from all corners for her famous series themed on varied aspects of Lord Buddha, traditional indigenous life, the everyday joys and sorrows of the indigenous people.

An art lover will be able to see along with the colours and ambience of her paintings, the artist's portrayal of indigenous peoples' inner feelings, pain and political and social oppression. The artist displays these elements in the mystical aura of light and shades. Here shade represents the pain of life while light symbolises the ray of hope.  “One day indigenous people will return to their golden days of the past. Our culture is so colourful and my paintings uphold that aspect. At the same time the hindrance and pain is also focused in my art. I express my tension and restlessness through spatula, scribbles and brushstrokes and numerous textures. I had a very colourful and memorable childhood that inspires me to depict colours, while the absence of harmony in the hills evokes the dull aspects. I always try to celebrate life and my rich culture and that's why the vibrant hues get prominence in my paintings. The deprived and the victim at least get peace and happiness in my canvases. They at least reminisce the happy and nostalgic days of childhood,” said the artist.

Kanak Chanpa Chakma's daughter Shiropa's watercolour, photography and a short film will be also on display at the show.

The young artist will play the piano at the inaugural ceremony of the exhibition.  She has been making films since an early age and has so far made eight short films including several international and national award winning films. The 10-minute film “Bird in a Cage” by Shiropa will continuously be screened during the exhibition hour every day.

“It is very important for the younger generation to know what the previous generations were like. We learn from their experiences,” said Shiropa.