Remarks

Remarks by Ambassador Patricia A. Butenis at the “A Splendid Tradition” Exhibition of Dhamrai Metal Craft Bengal Gallery of Fine Arts

Dhaka

May 24, 2006

Salaam aleikum, namaskar and good evening.  I’m pleased to be here at Bengal Gallery of Fine Arts.  Thank you for your warm welcome.

We are here tonight to open “A Splendid Tradition,” an exhibition of Dhamrai Metal Craft.  But we are also here to salute and celebrate Bengali culture in all its richness. The world of your art reflects you as a people: vibrant, energetic, respectful of traditions, and above all, resilient.  Your strength is in your ability to transcend tragedy, to turn the ordinary into art.  As your beloved poet, the Nobel Laureate Tagore wrote, “What is Art?  It is the response of man’s creative soul to the call of the Real.”

All of Bangladesh should take pride in your diverse cultural scene and the traditions handed down through the generations.  Today we celebrate the gratifying result of an intensive effort to preserve a traditional art form. This effort preserved more than artistic techniques, however; it preserved an art form and an entire way of life in grave danger of dying out.

The American Embassy community, like many in Bangladesh, has long admired the work of Dhamrai Metal Casting and its fierce determination to preserve the lost wax method of metal casting.  Bangladesh and Nepal are the only places in the world where this ancient tradition has been preserved to modern times.  Each piece produced by this method is unique, showing a dedication and commitment to quality that is increasingly rare.

The Ambassador’s Fund for Cultural Preservation is funded by the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs at the U.S. Department of State.  The Fund aims to protect and preserve elements of culture that timelessly reflect a nation’s heritage.  We are proud that the U.S. Embassy Dhaka has funded important projects in Bangladesh:  at the Liberation War Museum, which vividly depicts the birth of your country; at Varendra Museum in Rajshahi, which houses priceless collections of  the 16^th to 19^th centuries; to the International Center for the Study of Bengal Art, a research center directed at investigating and documenting the ancient art of Bengal; and Palli Baul Samaj Unnayan Shagstha, an organization to help save the music of the wandering minstrels of Bangladesh.  The Initiative for the Preservation of Dhamrai Metal Casting (IPDM) will keep the legacy of traditional metal casting alive in Bangladesh.

Along with the hard work of the artisans of Dhamrai, our grant to IPDM has helped to maintain their ancient craft and promote awareness of this tradition.  It is amazing what the Initiative has been able to accomplish: the first stage was documentation.  Interviewers worked to accurately document the craft process and the craftsmen’s way of life; this led to a practical plan to improve working conditions. Craftsmen also participated in group meetings in Dhamrai, where they discussed prospects and problems of the brass and copper industry in order to formulate a plan of action.  To educate students about this almost extinct industry, Dhamrai held a weekend metal casting workshop for school children. More than 200 students from Dhaka schools attended, making models which were then cast.  I understand that this program had a tremendous response, since students returned to Dhamrai with their parents.

One of the most innovative aspects of the project was an exchange program between Nepal and Bangladesh.  Craftsmen from both countries exchanged ideas and gained experience in designing and finishing.  Five novices held apprenticeships and now work as craftsmen.

As a crowning glory, the video The Metal Craft of Dhamrai was produced.  It documents the painstaking process of sculpting wax models, enclosing the models in molds, melting away the wax and casting bronze.  It is a fascinating video for any art lover to see, but particularly for any Bangladeshi proud that that this craft has been preserved.  In fact, the U.S. Embassy used this video as a New Year’s gift, with an overwhelming response. 
I’ve mentioned how much the American community in Dhaka appreciates Bengali art.  But for your culture and heritage to survive, you must support them too.  The patronage of the expatriate community is not enough.  You must help to revitalize this important part of your past.  Losing your traditions would not be only a tragedy for Bangladesh, but a loss for the entire world.

Tonight’s opening is a fine example of cooperation between the United States and Bangladesh.  We are very grateful to the Bengal Gallery of Fine Arts for hosting the exhibit.  Your tradition of nurturing Bangladeshi arts and culture, and your role as a cultural hub, mean that many people will have the chance to enjoy Dhamrai Metal Casting’s work first hand.  Warm thanks also to Sukantha Banik of The Initiative for the Preservation of Dhamrai Metal Casting for tirelessly guiding the artisans of Dhamrai to produce the masterpiece quality Hindu and Buddhist images among other new and innovative pieces.

To our former colleague Matt Friedman, now at USAID Bangkok, and to American Center’s Sabreen Rahman: this project would never be possible without your vision and dedication.  Your hard work and commitment have meant the preservation of a matchless part of Bangladeshi culture.  Finally, I thank the artisans of Dhamrai Metal Casting for bringing us joy through their imagination, which brings to life so much of what makes your country unique.

Thank you.

Note:  A Bangla translation of this article is also available from the American Center.  If you are interested in the translation, please call the American Center Press Section (Tel: 88371500-4, Fax: 9881677; e-mail: DhakaPA@state.gov; Website: dhaka.usembassy.gov