Page 314 - Art and Crafts of Bangladesh

FIRST GENERATION ARTIST 311

in 1946, he established ‘Mukulfouz’ as a branch of the previously existing ‘Mukul
Mela’ and became its highest leader. His instructions as a leader were published as
letters in a page titled ‘Mukuler Mahfil’ in the daily ‘Dainik Azad’. In the same year he
exhibited paintings done in the method of pata paintings in an exposition of Muslim
artists in the Islamia College of Kolkata. In the Kolkata period of his life, he was also
involved in activities like designing covers and drawing cartoons for periodical and
illustrating Eid editions of dailies and weeklies.
The Indian subcontinent became free from colonial rule while Quamrul was still a
student. ‘Pakistan’, the Promised Land for Bengali Muslims was born;
simultaneously a huge number of people had to leave their motherland as a
consequence of the partition of Bengal. With his mother and siblings Quamrul also
came to ‘East Bengal’ (1948).
Pakistan period
Immediately after his arrival, he involved himself in the task of establishing an art
school in Dhaka under the leadership of Zainul Abedin. When the Art Institute was
founded in September, 1948, he began his professional life by joining as one of the
eminent founder teachers of the Institute. He fulfilled his duty as a teacher in the
Institute until his appointment as the Chief Designer of Design Centre on March 19,
1960. Besides working as a teacher, he also founded Dhaka Art Group (1950) with a
view to develop the art scene and was elected the secretary of this group. Two art
exhibitions took place in Dhaka (1951 and 1952) at the initiative of this group.
During this period he became deeply absorbed in the cultural activities of the country.
He was the organizer of the first ever birth anniversary program (1951) of
Rabindranath Tagore in this country; he was also one of the initiators for the
establishment of Bulbul Lalitkala Academy (1955). Other than that he actively
participated in the cultural conferences that took place in Chittagong (1951), Comilla
(1952), Dhaka (1954) and Kagmari of Tangail (1957). The inauguration ceremony of fig. 8.12 Roybenshe
the second exhibition of the Dhaka Art Group was supposed to take place on February Dance, linocut, 1974
22, 1952. The incident of 21st February took place
while he was present in the old museum for the
preparation of the exhibition. Under the
circumstances, he decided to postpone the exhibition
and became involved with the Language Movement in
the days that followed. Thus, his illusions about
Pakistan were shattered.
In this phase he was deeply involved in commercial art.
He proved his skill in various activities including
designing book covers, illustrating books and
periodicals and adding artistry and beauty to diverse
ventures. Along with other co-artists he even set up an
organization for commercial art called ‘Vibgyor’.