Page 385 - Art and Crafts of Bangladesh

382 ART AND CRAFTS

sculptures, made a potent impact in the quiet world of local art. After all these years
I would like to say with modesty: there was no movement in the field of painting in
Dhaka, there was no experimentation with style – all was confined to the same rules
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and methods.’ [Trans.]
Although this reflection of the artist is mostly true, – taking queue from the folk art -
a new life had surely been infused in the paintings of this country. The three artists
mentioned, however, can claim their part as leading figures in the inventive
experimentations of the 1950s.
Hamidur Rahman and Novera Ahmed and others did not stay in the country for long.
Aminul Islam stayed on as a teacher of the Institute of Fine Art, Dhaka, paying no
heed to the extension of his scholarship in Italy. He gradually assumed a central
position in the field of art in Dhaka owing to his competence in both experimentations
with art and theoretical discourses. Zainul Abedin was proud of him. He proved his
competence in meetings and seminars and performed as an able judge in various
competitions and seminars of art. Apart from his memoirs, he wrote several essays to
analyze his thoughts on art. His memory is very sharp. Many artists and critics
benefited in various ways from discussing and consulting with him.
In Dhaka Art College, Aminul Islam was the first lecturer included in the government
gazette. He was the Principal of this college from 1978 to 1983. Aminul Islam’s
contribution in stimulating the art lovers and inspiring the young artists through
teaching was not confined within the Institute of Fine Art. He has taught many art
enthusiasts generously outside academic premises; and he interacts with artists of the
young generation like friends.
Starting from his distant boyhood, Aminul Islam is still practicing art today. He does
not have weakness for any particular style and is still working in various media. There
have been 10 solo exhibitions of the artist, in the country and outside, since 1956 and
he has participated in many group exhibitions. He has received awards both at home
and abroad. He received the first prize in the show of the Dhaka Art Group in 1952.
He won national awards in the Pakistan era in 1957 and in Bangladesh in 1964. In
1976, he was awarded the Shilpakala Academy prize and the ‘Grand Imperial’ prize at
the 5th Teheran Biennale. The highest civil award of the country ‘Ekushey Padak’ was
given to the artist in 1981. ‘Bangladesh Charushilpi Samsad’ honored him in 1985. He
received Independence Award in 1988.
Aminul Islam participated in biennales and triennales all over the world; at the same
time he worked as a member of the jury in the local biennales and has been involved
in various organizational activities to carry out the multifarious responsibilities of an
artist’s life. In the local art world, he is still a guardian figure.

Translated by Nusrat Jahan, Program Manager, Traidcraft Exchange, Bangladesh Country Office