Every human being may have imaginations but not al) tan colour them. During the mid Seventies. when Hablba Sultana —more com inonly known as Belly Sarker. was Just a first year Intermediate Student in some Rangpur college, she had this undying compulsion to express-her thoughts: rather her Inner turmoils or conflicts. She chose sculptures as her own language of expression. Here . she could not only bring life to Jlfelcs^ stone or wood-but

actually enaea up saying something new.

"Those were the days when my Instincts were my lu tor. I moulded clay, on seeing the pictures of the per sonaltties that I wanted to give a three dimensional shape, and later painted them." she confesses her naivety, laughing Sheikh MuJIb. Lenin. Tagore. Nazrul' — those clay structures are now Just frttg ments of her past Just like childhood dolls for any body Seeing her Indlffer ent to studies and more engrossed in making mattr murti (clay, image) her neighbours abhored her ways of growing up. They thought she was doomed to go to -hell for such irreligious deeds. She has now come a long way from those days In Rangpur and

all the way she was guided by her insUncts and dream.

She came to Dhaka and appeared for the admission test in the Institute of Fine Arts and finally after trying for two years she could avail a seat and managed a diploma In ceramics. “Ceramics was never my preferred Une of work, but as I did not get a chance In sculptures here. I took this opportunity Just as a start." she reflects

Young and talented and driven by an urge to fulfil her dream, she worked hard and was awarded the first prize In the Bangladesh ceramic coinpetition held by the Small and CpUage' Industries Corporation Dhaka. Bangiatjesh. Tills was her first baeak. After this competition and with the help' of acquaintances she was granted a scholarship to,study ' sculpture in the Decorative Art Dejjartment of the Central Academy of Art and design in Beijing. After the completion of her undergraduate courses, she was admitted to the post-gfaduate studies programme In the same specialisation In the.same institute, which she completed In 1993.

We have seen her develop from a student Into an excellent sculptress Her excellent results were the fruits of ten years of hard study, and in Acknowledgement of her achievement the examination committee advised the department to award her Honours on graduation. She also received Jhe department's Special Award In the honours category praises Professor Yuan Yunpu, Director Department of

Decorative Art.Central Academy of Art and Design. Beijing on the occasion of her solo exhibition held In September, 1993.

"1 believe sculpture Is Inspired by human, being's individual expression of worship — be it of mystery, man or god. It brings the lifeless bronze, marble or' stone to life. Imagination brings joy or sorrow to a piece of stone, "she explains her passion.* "Whatever I am today. 1 am thankful to my parents, because it was my

■ parents who de-I < ided that I should I be admitted to an I art institute rather I than rot in other I academic fnstitu-I t ions. My mother al-I ways wanted to be I an artist, in a way I she fill filled her de I sire through me," I she says.

Inspired by her mother's social role, she curved her "The World still has a locked door." a wood carving. Her mother wfien she was taking part in some election while Belly was .still a mere . girl. was awarded key as her symbol. With a key she would open all doors for her kind I she thought." Today ; women can become I heads of state, but : l he average woman must still stand a pace or two back . from her male counterpart. The work of a sculptor is heavy, some say it is a

man's Job. this doubles my happiness. I take great pleasure in doing a rrtan s job combined with, the Joy of serving womankind." she explains her ways of work.

Besides her awards, she took part in exhi bitioni and projects like, water sportsground sculpture project for the Mth Asian Games. Beijing. China. Then in second National Arts and Crafts Exhibition held in Chin#. China.Contemporary Dyeing and Weaving, peramic and Decorative Art in exhibition. Hong , Kong, and also in Modern Chinese Decorative

Art Exhibition. Singapore. She participated. 'The Goddess of Art" for the second Beijing International Television Week in coUaboration with her tutor Professor Li Deli ’. ., ,

Curving sculptures, for Belly, is something that satiates the hunger In her. But this talented. young sculptress, with degrees from Beljtng is totally disillusioned'now. She Is frustrated and unsure of her future here." I've been here for almost a vear now. I could get no work In my line of art" and recently I ve been trying to arrange an exhibition of mv works but with no success at all.” she points out her frustration.

Belly has set up no workshop here, her nine •years of hard work and' a lifetime of passion i.e her sculptures are almost (in the literal sense) dumped in her apartment and some at her brother s. Recently Shilpakala Academy has selected her "Cry for Freedom wood curving to be exhibited at a national exhibition. I. hope this Is mv beginning here." she con-chides.,.