CELEBRATE GOAN ART

BIJAN CHOUDHRY

 
 

21/11/1931

 

 

 

Artist Profile

BEGINNINGS

He was born in Calcutta. His father, Kunjabehari Chowdhury, was a Journalist. He was brought up in an atmorphere saturated with music, painting and drama. Greatly influenced by Adinath Mukherjee, a free-lance artist lived in his neighbourhood, Calcutta. He was the founder member of Society of Comtemporary Artists. He was the founder member of `Calcutta Painters` group. He was the member, Advisory Committee of Fine Arts, Govt. of West Bengal. 1981-82, 1985-86 Toured Britain and France. He was the Council Member of Democratic Writers and Artists Association, West Bengal. Illustrated Rabindranath Tagore`s `Lakshmir Pariksha`, published by Visva Bharati, and several books, for State Resource Centre for Adult Education, West Bengal. Wrote a book on Art, `Silpa Katha`, published by State Resource Centre for Adult Education, West Bengal. Commissions include Mural painting for Goodyear`s Calcutta Office. Mural with stained glass for Calcutta Airport. Glazed tiles mural

EDUCATION

1945-49 Studied at Govt. College of Arts & Crafts, Calcutta, he was expelled before completing his Diploma, due to his deep involvement in politics. 1953 Transferred and graduated from Govt. Institute of Arts, Dhaka.

EXHIBITIONS

1959 Group show, Society of Contemporary Artists, Calcutta. 1960 Group show, Society of Contemporary Artists, Calcutta. 1960 Banga Sanskriti Sammelan, Calcutta and Bombay. 1962 Solo show at Arts and Prints Gallery, Calcutta. 1963 Solo show at Arts and Prints Gallery, Calcutta. 1963 Solo exhb. at Patna. 1964 Eight Painters from Calcutta, AIFACS Gallery, New Delhi. 1964 `Calcutta Painters` group show, Calcutta. 1965 `Calcutta Painters` group show, Calcutta. 1966 Show in honour of Giacometti, Industry House, Calcutta. 1968 Exhb. with Paritosh Sen, Pravas Sen, Sarbari Roy Chowdhury, Mahim Rudra, Calcutta. 1969 West Bengal Artists, sponsored by Srinantwu, Bombay. 1974 Exhb. at Birla Academy of Art & Culture, Calcutta. 1974 `Calcutta Painters` group show, Birla Academy of Art & Culture, Calcutta. 1975 `Calcutta Painters` group show, Sridharani Art Gallery, New Delhi. 1975 Participated in the Third Triennale, New Delhi. 1977 Retrospective, Allaiance Francaise,

COLLECTION

National Gallery of Modern Art, New Delhi. Gaganendra Art Gallery (Govt. of West Bengal). Jane and Kito de Boer, Dubai. Delhi Art Gallery, New Delhi.

AWARDS

1963 Academy of Fine Arts Award, Calcutta. 1978 Rabindra Bharati Award, Calcutta. 1978 Documentary coloured film entitled `Bijan`, made by Film Australia, Film Division of Govt. of Australia. 1995 `Abanindra Puroshkar`, Govt. of West Bengal, Calcutta. He received William Carey Award.

STYLE

Bijan Choudhury has worked on the imagery of Bengali poetry as it has evolved since its earliest days to the present, covering almost more than four centuries of poetical development. His paintings have narrative elements but are in no way illustrative. He is here both as a composer and interpreter. His archetypal imagery and symbolism are not explicit as in the recent Indian variety of Surrealism and fantastic art. He has always avoided the sensational and the fearful aspects of art. He has searched for significant visual forms that have behind them the range and scope of Human Art since the earliest cave dwelling days.

TEACHING EXPERIENCE

1976-1980 He was the Principal, Indian College of Art and Draftmanship, Calcutta.

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