ABDUS SHAKOOR SHAH

Born in Bogura in 1947, Abdus Shakoor Shah is one of the most celebrated artists of the country. His motif-laden style that has long been considered an epitome of Bengali identity draws on the rural art and literary heritage of Mymensingh and beyond. As an artist he initiated a return to the location-specific practices and it is no coincidence that during his formative years he studied under Rashid Choudhury, an artist who sought to blend the local cultural heritage with the European avant-garde to develop an authentic voice. While completing a Post-Diploma in Fine Arts at the University of Baroda, in India, Shakoor was deeply influenced by the ideas of K G Subramanyan, an artist and teacher who believed that art practices in the region must spring out of its local heritage. For his exceptional innovative language of expression, Shakoor has been honored with numerous awards, including the Lalitkala Academy Best Prize in 1977, the Excellence Award in Tokyo in 1991, a Diploma from Smal Form Graphics in Lodz, Poland, in 1993, an Honorable Mention Award in the 13th National Art Exhibition in Dhaka in 1998, Tokyo ACCU competition runner up prize in 1998 and 2000, the Gold Medal in the 15th National Art Exhibition, Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy, in 2002, a UNESCO and Civitella Ranieri Foundation Fellowship in Umbria, Italy, in 2006, and S M Sultan Padak in 2008. Abdus Shakoor Shah has been a teacher at the Faculty of Fine Art at the University of Dhaka. He retired as a professor and since has been a freelance artist. His works are in the collections of many private and public institutions at home and abroad, including the National Art Gallery, Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy, Bangladesh National Museum, Mustra de Grafica, Italy, Osaka Prefectural Foundation of Culture, Japan, Enrigue Hudson Library, Argentina, Derby Art Gallery, Dubai, Shamballa Gallery, Denmark and  Gallery Charles de Gounod, La Reunion, France.