A storyteller crafts his journey in clay
Artist Sreshtha Saha's solo exhibition explores war and societal themes through 30 powerful clay sculptures, creating an immersive three-dimensional experience
A series of clay head sculptures placed in a circle seemed to reflect different conditions of the human mind. Contrary to the piece's title, 'Peace of mind', the heads depicted greed, crime, and even valiance. When I inquired about this specific piece, the artist only told me to take a walk around it, and so I did.
The theme started making sense as soon as I discovered a bird wrapped around a seventh head emerging from the middle of the circle. Artist Sreshtha Saha was quietly observing my reaction before he said, "The head symbolises eternal peace, as it breaks away from the other emotions that had been holding it back."
Saha's solo exhibition, 'Journey to the way of clay' at 3D Art Gallery showcases 30 clay sculptures like 'Peace of mind', exploring the powerful concepts of war and society through his techniques and design. The exhibition opened on 5 October, and will come to a close on 15 October.
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Artist Saha graduated with an MFA in 2023 from the Department of Ceramics at the Faculty of Fine Arts in the University of Dhaka.
'Journey to the way of clay' is the very first exhibition to take place at the 3D Art Gallery, situated right next to their 3D Cafe. It made perfect sense for the very first exhibition to take place in the 3D Art Gallery to be a collection of sculptures, as it seamlessly merges with the theme of the environment.
However, the exhibition took quite a bold step by displaying the pieces in the open, with little to no barriers to protect the pieces. If you have been to the Bangabandhu Military Museum before, then you have probably noticed that it is a spot where families frequently visit with their children.
"If we had put up more panels around the pieces it would have obstructed the view. You can never really put art in a cage," shared Saha.
The longer my eyes lingered on each piece, noticing small details, the technique behind them became more prevalent. A bowl made up of thick strings of clay titled, 'Bird Nest', was one of his smaller pieces, but still demanded attention.
"The clay was put through a noodle maker to achieve this shape. I formed the shape of the bowl with the strings of clay," said Saha.
But one of the standout pieces has to be 'Unstable Eco-Society'. In an art exhibition, where every piece is expected to look composed, calculated, and perfect, the long crack in the piece can't help but draw your eyes to it.
Artist Saha shared that the crack had formed initially as an accident, but he had repurposed and mended the piece into what it is today.
To fully appreciate the art on display, viewers need to walk around and observe the three-dimensional pieces. For some pieces, the artist advises to walk around them, just like 'Peace of mind', while for other pieces he may ask you to squint, such as with the piece, 'Existential Crisis'.
TBS Picks ( A selection of artworks with comments from the artist)
Existential Crisis
When you look at this piece normally, they look like three separate pieces. But when you squint your eyes a little and as the colours merge, they begin to look like a family. This is a commentary on the ongoing conflict in Palestine, and how the people are battling with the instability of life with no food, shelter, or safety.
Ruins of Ukraine War
You have to look at this piece from its side, then you will be able to see the holes inside the sculpture. It gives off the impression that these pieces have been caught in the crossfire of heavy shelling, as if it was attacked. In places that used to be filled with people have become desolate. This concept began in the classroom while I was a student.
Unstable Eco-Society
This sculpture primarily represents a 'matir chula', but there's a crack running through the centre. It symbolises the fragile financial state of the economy, depicting that it is broke. At the very top, a small rolling pin is stuck, signifying a standstill in the economy. Originally, the piece was straight, but though it ended up bent, it remained stable, giving it its distinct shape.
