Remark on The Bird Family by Shah Alam Zahiruddin, Chief Architect, Government of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh
The Bird Family, sculpted by Hamiduzzaman Khan, is a significant addition to the treasure of art in sculpture in the country.
Hamiduzzaman, who first made himself a place when he successfully depicted in his sculpture the horror and agony of the war of liberation, is famous for his works in bronze casting in contemporary mood. Although it is not the intention here to label him with a style or group, but in his work on the Bird Family the sculptor has worked in the mood of a constructivist laying his hand on readily available material from the market and using engineering skill and technology accessible in his command to create this almost a giant work of art, which could only be put up with skill and technology of the time and place.
The piece of sculpture, as an work of art, could be properly appreciated if it is kept in mind that it was created to occupy a significant out of doors space, to be in harmony with the architectural concept. The sculptor had a challenge to create a dynamic sensation in his static object to merge as one with the moving, falling water with the fountain.
To this the sculptor responded by choosing a stylized form of water birds, at home, bathing in jets of water. Taking in its large spread of wings the thrust of water jets, the birds extend their beaks upwards. In fact the sculpture is best appreciated when the fountain is on. With the water falling on the wing spreads, the birds of the static sculpture almost come to life. They seem to flap their wings in great excitement, accentuating the inclined thrust of the peripheral water jets, reaching its climax with the thrust of the beaks of the birds trying to reach upwards along with the central jet of water.
Choosing it to be a group rather than one single piece, and of differing size within the same theme, in a highly geometric and central form of a circular fountain, the artist has established a pleasing effect of a changing inter-relationship of form from every angle. Yet, in creating this large group of sculpture, for its color, texture and form the artist kept his choice limited simply on brass pipes and brass sheets. The natural weathered colour of brass gives the richness of colour to it and the simple elements, mostly lines, accentuated and broken by some planes creates the marvel of this work of art.
The Bird Family by Hamiduzzaman Khan is expected to leave a significant mark in the area of unfolding creative fervour in the field of sculpture by a group of dedicated sculptors experimenting and working towards establishing this powerful art form in its proper place in Bangladesh scene.
