Karmakar, Kalidas
Karmakar, Kalidas (1946-2019) an internationally renowned painter of Bangladesh. He is an artist skilled in the use of colors and materials of painting. Nirikshan Dharmi style of arts gained fame through his paintings and prints. Kalidas Karmakar was born on 10 January 1946 in Faridpur. Some family members including his father were involved in painting. Before becoming an artist, Kalidasa had a strong interest in Botany. This interest may have been originated from the elder members of his family who promoted herbal treatment. They depended on the roots and branches of various trees and plants. Kalidasa was brilliant and brave. Born in a family of artists (Karmkaras), he grew up watching crafts. In 1960, he moved to Dhaka by coincidence. That day was the entrance exam in fine arts. He attended the exam and was admitted to the Government College of Arts and Crafts (now Faculty of Fine Arts, Dhaka University) in 1962. From there, he completed two years of pre-degree and went to India. He graduated from Government College of Fine Arts and Craft, Calcutta in 1969. He returned to Bangladesh again in 1971. He studied graphic arts at the Warsaw Academy of Fine Arts of the University of Warsaw on a scholarship from the Polish government. He carried on research in fine arts at Atelier-17 in Paris on a French government scholarship. He received higher education in woodblock printing at the National University of Fine Arts and Music in Tokyo on a fellowship from the Japan Foundation. He conducted research at West Bengal Lalitkala Academy studio on ICCR special scholarship. He also received fellowship from Asian Cultural Council, New York, USA. From 1988, he stayed in Japan for a few years. During that time, he learned the traditional Japanese method of making washi paper.
His own language is clear in his work by combining different elements and different worldly materials. Later, he used various innovative elements in his canvases. He used colors on the canvas carefree. Yet he maintained a sense of proportion. However, he had a preference for white and black colors.
He is an iconic professional artist. He was interested mainly in painting all his life. He was immersed in art only at home and abroad for a long time. He was diverse at various experimental works on canvas. He examined painting subjects, canvases and materials. His exhibitions were varied in nature. Installations have also been placed in his exhibitions. He has attended many exhibitions in different places in the world including New York, Los Angeles, Washington DC, Osaka, Tokyo, Innoshima, Kofu, Tehran, Delhi, Kolkata, Rome, Beijing, Paris, Canada, Hong Kong, Bangkok, Thailand, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Indonesia, Lebanon and Poland. He also organized many international exhibitions. In 2016, in a solo exhibition at the National Museum, he added a different dimension by painting pictures with Surer Murchhana.
His works are preserved in Bangladesh National Museum, Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy, Bangladesh Embassy in London, Asia and Pacific Museum in Poland and Warsaw Academy of Fine Arts, Fukuoka Asian Art Museum, Tehran Museum of Contemporary Art, Jakarta Art Council, Bali Art Center, IMF, World Bank, Beijing, Tokyo, Paris, Bengal Foundation, BRAC, Arab Bangladesh Bank, Bangladesh Biman, Film Development Corporation, Bangladesh Tourism Corporation, Washington DC, New York, Yongwon Corporation of Korea and Tehran and also at individual levels at home and abroad.
Apart from Bangladesh, he won many international awards from Iran, Japan, France, Poland, India and some other countries. In 2018, he was awarded the ‘Ekushey Padak’ for his contribution to arts. This talented artist passed away on 18 October 2019. [Hamiduzzaman Khan]
