Mask exhibition at Galleri Kaya

Masks have been used since ancient times for both ceremonial and practical purposes. They are a familiar and vibrant element in many folk and traditional pageants, ceremonies, festivals and rituals, often of prehistoric origin. Mask making continues to be popular in our country and it hangs on walls or ramparts in homes to enhance the artistic splendour of the premises.

Galleri Kaya in Uttara has organised a group exhibition of masks titled “Mukh O Mukhosh 4”. About nineteen artists have participated in the exhibition.

Participating artists include Tarun Ghosh, Kazi Rakib, Masuda Kazi, Saidul Haque Juise, Faruk Ahamed, Debashish Pal, Rajaul Islam Lovelu, Md Abdul Momen Milton, Bishwajit Paul, Khandakar Nasir Ahmed, Dulal Chandra Das, Abdur Rahim, Pintu Chandra Deb, Debdas Malakar, Sandip Kumer Debnath, Kanok Kumar Pathak, Ananna Dey, Amit Kuch and Rituparna Dhar.

A total number of 106 pieces are on display. In this exhibition, the artists have made many faces fashioned out of metal, glass, paper and pigment, wood, fibreglass, saw dust and papier-mache.

At the exhibition, some masks seem to be primitive, tribal, modern, ancient African, Asiatic and sometimes alien. The masks feature diverse people from different continents. The faces are not identical and each face expresses a unique explanation and look. The face is the most significant part of the human body and it can express the language of the mind vividly. The facial expressions are superb and impressive.

Masks express longing, yearning, feeling, pain, happiness and the success of human beings. Some masks appear as realistic, abstract and semi-abstract.

The previous exhibitions of this series were organised by the
same gallery in 2005, 2009 and 2011 respectively.

The exhibition ends on June 11.