Book launch
Sketches to recapture splendour of 'Rose Garden'
Fayza Haq
Hamiduzzaman Khan, the reputed sculptor-cum-painter, has done the illustration for the book Rose Garden which was launched recently in the city. Most of the book-- that bears Hamid's name on the cover-- contains sketches in pen-and-ink, crayon, along with water-colour illustrations at times. The text has been written in English by Kazi Mohammed Sajid; meanwhile Hamid's friend, contributed 20 photographs in black and white to lend substances to the historical background of the Rose Garden -- set in Old Dhaka, and built 70 years back.Hamid says that the Rose Garden is a palace with a large sprawling garden, built over seven acres, which includes two large ponds. This was built during the British regime and therefore contains architecture that harks back to seven decades. It was built by Hrishikesh Das, says Hamid and as it contained a rose garden, it was known by that name. The owners include two sons, a daughter and the mother, he elaborates. Kazi Sajid, one of the sons, is an engineer who worked for the World Bank when Hamid was sculpting for them for their new building, at Agargaon, Dhaka. It was Sajid who suggested that Hamid visit their family home, which inspired the making of the book. The superb, old palace includes intricate architectural decorations like cement friezes, tinted glasses, intricate western classical -styled statues in the form of light stands and fountains. It contains ornamental heirlooms in the shape of regal beds and other pieces of furniture. These have been aptly projected in the book of 50 splendid sketches and washes, contained in 88 pages. Dealing with both the exterior and interior of the palace, Hamid brings in cement, wood and glass artifacts in his focus. "The building is in pristine white," Hamid stresses. In the book we come across a woman's statue, with hair piled up, with a stand for a light in the hand. Her frills, belt on the waistline and the folds of her long dress are projected in quick and deft strokes of black on white. Her Greek goddess-like figure is well projected as also her gently moulded visage. The cupid has a conventional skimpy loin-cloth, and he looks down with mischief and glee. He too is a torch- bearer. The figures -- the decorative base of the cement plaster of the main gate entrance -- are The guardian lads and this too is intricate in formation with innumerable floral designs, intertwining curls, loops, ribbons, and lines. This is done in rapid pen-and-ink strokes. The maiden twins, brings in the twirling, gliding figures of two nymph-like figures. They have short robes, and stand on a base decorated with garlands. The sentinel Light-keeper, done in stone and cement in the west patio, is linked up with the balustrade, an arch and a Doric pillar. This too is aptly represented in fine sketches. One is fascinated by the historical record of Hamid's flamboyant strokes.
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Sketches by Hamiduzzaman Khan, featured in the book |
