By Aidha Cader
British born Bangladeshi artist, Tasleema Alam held her solo exhibition on Islamic art, titled ‘Sacred Harmony’ at the EMK Centre, Dhamondi prior to Eid’ul Adha. The exhibition showcased a wide variety of techniques in the application of Islamic and traditional arts. They ranged from geometric designs in watercolour to glazed ceramic plates comprising of Iznik designs to miniature paintings depicting scenes from the Persian epic Shahnameh. The standout pieces were the ‘ceiling’ made of white plaster comprising of twelve pointed star that breaks out into a beautiful symmetrical geometric design. This three-dimensional artwork painted in shades of blue and gold depicts perfect harmony in design, colour and aesthetics.’
“It took me over a year to complete it,” adds Tasleema. Also on display was Gold gilded calligraphy on clay star motifs, a unique blend of traditional Islamic art with Bangladeshi techniques of clay moulding. “I like to create something that has a local, deshi feel while keeping in line with the traditions of Islamic Art,” says Tasleema. The EMK centre also hosted a three and a half-day workshop on ‘Pattern of the Alhambra’ conducted by the artist herself. By the end of the program novices like myself and twelve others were drawing, painting and creating various forms of Islamic geometric patterns.
Tasleema trained at Prince’s School of Traditional Arts with a Masters in Visual Islamic and Traditional Arts. She is skilled in the Moroccan technique of Zouaq and pattern designing of which her signature piece ‘the ceiling’ received great media attention through satellite media and BBC Radio 4. After graduating, she served in a management position at the university, later culminating in an interior design scheme for a UK mosque. Some of her works are in the private collections of distinguished patrons such as Baron Von Thyssen, Abdul Lateef Jameel, Abu Dhabi Tourism Board and British American Tobacco.
Tasleema has set up a working studio, ‘Traditional Ateliers’ in Dhaka. She hopes to establish a centre of design revival, combining traditional skills with up-to-date, modern technology, and work alongside grassroot artisans in ceramics, textile and other crafts.
Islamic Art is a rare feat in Dhaka. With the positive response to this event, artists such as Tasleema are changing the paradigm of the Dhaka art and brining more variation and wider spectrum into this creative field.