women volunteering for over 50 years
One of the interesting things we have learned about on this very eventful trip to Dhaka has been Surayia’s role with the Women’s Voluntary Association, a service group formed in Dhaka in 1954. Through talks with Surayia and two of the early members of the WVA, we now have a better
Women's Voluntary Association, Dhaka. Surayia Rahman design.
understanding of Surayia’s work as a staff artist for the Association. During her time with WVA, starting not long after her marriage and move to Dhaka from Calcutta, she produced a wide assortment of art, including painted dolls and silk scrolls. She also designed the WVA logo and created stationery for the Association. Through the courtesy of Mrs. Rahman we have copies of the logo; Mrs. Ispahani was kind enough to allow us to photograph and print with the original copper stamps Surayia designed for the stationery. What an incredible range of art Surayia produced! A blog post on the printing plates will be forthcoming…