Matir Poster
Matir Poster (Bengali: মাটির পোস্টার; literally "clay poster") is a large sculptural film poster made from clay and preserved in the Bangladesh Film Archive Museum. The poster was created as a promotional artwork for the film Kagoj (The Paper) directed by Ali Zulfikar Zahedi. It is noted in Bangladeshi media for its uncommon material and three-dimensional, handcrafted form.[1]
Description
The Matir Poster is a framed clay relief poster approximately six feet in size. The work consists of modeled clay panels mounted on a wooden support frame; the clay surface features relief sculpting and textured modeling that produce a three-dimensional effect unlike conventional printed posters. The artwork was finished with surface detail and colour to enhance legibility and visual impact when displayed.[2]
Creation and maker
Contemporary reports identify the principal artist as Rinku (চিত্রশিল্পী রিংকু). The production reportedly required about one month of active sculpting work and involved assistants for construction and framing. Two copies of the poster were produced: one exhibited at an urban public venue and another displayed at the Film Development Corporation (FDC) before donation to the Film Archive.[3][4]
Significance
Creating a film poster entirely from clay is extremely uncommon in film publicity. The Matir Poster has been described in press coverage as a distinctive blend of traditional sculptural craft and cinematic promotion, reflecting an experimental approach to visual publicity. Its three-dimensional, handcrafted nature sets it apart from mass-produced paper or digital posters and highlights the role of local artisanal practices in contemporary cultural expression.[4]
Preservation and public display
The poster was donated to the Bangladesh Film Archive Museum, which accepted the work for preservation as an archival artifact representing an unusual form of film-related material culture. The Archive’s custody of the Matir Poster has been noted as an example of how institutions may conserve non-film objects—such as posters and promotional artifacts—that contribute to cinematic heritage.[3][5]
Contextual note
Although the Matir Poster was created to promote the film Kagoj, this article focuses specifically on the poster as an independent artistic and archival object. The director of the film, Ali Zulfikar Zahedi, is a Bangladeshi filmmaker credited with writing and producing the film; his involvement in the project included presenting the poster for public display and eventual archival donation.[1]
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 [URL_HERE "কাগজ (২০২২-এর চলচ্চিত্র)"] Check
|url=value (help). Bangla Wikipedia. Retrieved ACCESS_DATE_HERE. Check date values in:|accessdate=(help) - ↑ [URL_HERE "মাটির তৈরি সিনেমার পোস্টার"] Check
|url=value (help). Dainik Bangla. Retrieved ACCESS_DATE_HERE. Check date values in:|accessdate=(help) - ↑ 3.0 3.1 [URL_HERE "কাগজের মাটির পোস্টার ফিল্ম আর্কাইভে হস্তান্তর"] Check
|url=value (help). Sarabangla. 6 April 2023. Retrieved ACCESS_DATE_HERE. Check date values in:|accessdate=(help) - ↑ 4.0 4.1 [URL_HERE "First time in Film history that a movie poster has been made out of clay"] Check
|url=value (help). Addrian Productions. Retrieved ACCESS_DATE_HERE. Check date values in:|accessdate=(help) - ↑ [URL_HERE "Video: Clay poster handover / Bangladesh Film Archive"] Check
|url=value (help). IMDb. Retrieved ACCESS_DATE_HERE. Check date values in:|accessdate=(help)
External links
- [Addrian Productions — promotional/press page about the Matir Poster] URL_HERE
- [News report: Matir Poster handed to Bangladesh Film Archive] URL_HERE
