Mustafa Zaman:
‘Lost Memory Eternalised’
Artist, writer and philosopher Mustafa Zaman presents images and texts exploring his theories about the body, trauma, history, and politics in Bangladesh and the wider world.
The conceptual images presented in ‘Lost Memory Eternalised’ were developed following a chance encounter when the artist discovered ants in his honey. The historic images overlaid with a torrent of drowned ants create haunting visuals to make us think about the impact of politics and history upon us as individuals. Zaman’s conceptual images are accompanied by his poetic essays, which further explore the themes depicted in his work.
"This series of images brings focus to the historical moments in Bengal which endured 200 years of colonial oppression. It addresses the trauma and alienation modern life has given rise to as the legacies of the past continue to haunt the people in this region. My primary goal was to create some imaginary relics through which to reach an eddy of thoughts and emotions."
—Mustafa Zaman
Mustafa Zaman: ‘Lost Memory Eternalised’ was on public display from 20 October - 14 November 2021 in Chamberlain Square, Birmingham.
See photos of the outdoor exhibition:
This exhibition is a collaboration between Birmingham Museums Trust and Dhaka-based Bengal Foundation, a leading Bangladeshi arts charity. It is part of a shared artistic programme that marks the 50th anniversary of Bangladesh’s independence and is funded by the British Council Arts. The original development of and collaboration for this exhibition was made possible through Transforming Narratives (TN), a ground-breaking programme to support exchanging contemporary narratives between creative and cultural practitioners and organisations in Birmingham, Pakistan and Bangladesh. TN is supported by Arts Council England and delivered in association with The British Council.
