Zainul Abedin

2021-06-05T17:08:08Z

103.131.147.11: /* Personal life and death */

{{About|the painter from Bangladesh|the great-grandson of Prophet Muhammad after whom he is named|Zayn al-'Ābidīn}}
{{short description|Bangladeshi painter and pioneer of the modern art movement}}
{{EngvarB|date=July 2015}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2019}}
{{Infobox artist
| honorific_prefix = Shilpacharya
| name = Zainul Abedin
| native_name = জয়নুল আবেদিন
| native_name_lang = bn
| image = Zainul Abedin.jpg
| caption = {{small|Abedin in 1955}}
| birth_date = {{birth date|df=y|1914|12|29}}
| birth_place = [[Kishoreganj|Kishoregonj]], [[East Bengal]], [[British India]] {{small|(now [[Bangladesh]])}}
| death_date = {{death date and age|df=y|1976|05|28|1914|12|29}}
| death_place = [[Dhaka]], Bangladesh
| nationality = [[Bangladeshi]]
| field = Painting, drawing
| training = {{plainlist |
* Government Art School, [[Kolkata]]
* [[Slade School of Fine Art]]
}}
| movement =
| works = {{plainlist |
* ''The Struggle''
* ''Rebel cow''
* ''Famine paintings''
* ''Nobanno''
* ''Study of a Crow''
* ''Two faces''
}}
| patrons =
| awards =
| website =
}}
'''Zainul Abedin''' (29 December 1914 – 28 May 1976) was a [[Bangladeshi]] painter born in Kishoregonj, East Bengal, British India (now [[Bangladesh]]). He became well known in 1944 through his series of paintings depicting some of the great famines in Bengal during its [[British Raj|British colonial period]]. After the [[Partition of India]]n subcontinent he moved to [[East Pakistan]] (now [[Bangladesh]]). In 1948, he helped to establish the Institute of Arts and Crafts (now [[Faculty of Fine Arts, University of Dhaka|Faculty of Fine Arts]]) at University of Dhaka.<ref name="Alom193873">{{cite news |last1=Alom |first1=Zahangir |title=Homage to Shilpacharya Zainul Abedin |url=http://www.thedailystar.net/arts-entertainment/event/homage-shilpacharya-zainul-abedin-193873 |access-date=5 January 2016 |work=The Daily Star |date=29 December 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160105153748/http://www.thedailystar.net/arts-entertainment/event/homage-shilpacharya-zainul-abedin-193873 |archive-date=5 January 2016}}</ref> [[The Indian Express]] has described him as a legendary Bangladeshi painter.<ref name="indianexpress">{{cite news |last1=Sinha |first1=Nidhi |title=Celebrating the work of Bangladeshi painter and activist Zainul Abedin |url=http://indianexpress.com/article/lifestyle/life-style/for-the-people-7/ |access-date=5 January 2016 |work=The Indian Express|date=27 August 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140927084103/http://indianexpress.com/article/lifestyle/life-style/for-the-people-7/ |archive-date=27 September 2014}}</ref> Like many of his contemporaries, his paintings on the [[Bengal famine of 1943]] are viewed as his most characteristic works. His homeland honored him with given the title “'''Shilpacharya'''” ({{lang-bn|শিল্পাচার্য}}) “Great teacher of the arts" for his artistic and visionary attributes.<ref>{{cite news |title=Noor pays tribute to Shilpacharya Zainul Abedin|url=http://bssnews.net/newsDetails.php?cat=0&id=458653&date=2014-12-29 |work=Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha |access-date=5 January 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150106090759/http://www.bssnews.net/newsDetails.php?cat=0&id=458653&date=2014-12-29|archive-date= 6 January 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://weeklyholiday.net/Homepage/Pages/UserHome.aspx?ID=9&date=12/30/2011 |title='Zainul's devotion to art never bothered me,' says Jahanara |work=Weekly Holiday |location=Dhaka |publisher=Holiday Publication Limited |date=11 December 2011 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160109170901/http://weeklyholiday.net/Homepage/Pages/UserHome.aspx?ID=9&date=12%2F30%2F2011 |archive-date=9 January 2016 |access-date=9 January 2016 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://bdnews24.com/lifestyle/2005/12/28/photography-exhibition-on-zainul-s-life-begins-at-du |title=Pho Photography exhibition on Zainul's life begins at DU |work=[[Bdnews24.com]] |location=Dhaka |date=28 December 2005 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160109172459/http://bdnews24.com/lifestyle/2005/12/28/photography-exhibition-on-zainul-s-life-begins-at-du |archive-date=9 January 2016 |access-date=9 January 2016 }}</ref> He was the pioneer of the [[modern art]] movement that took place in [[Bangladesh]] and was rightly considered by [[Syed Manzoorul Islam]] as the founding father of Bangladeshi modern arts, soon after Bangladesh earned the status of an independent republic.<ref>{{cite web |title=Zainul Abedin |url=http://artist.christies.com/Zainul-Abedin-8989-bio.aspx |website=artist.christies.com |publisher=Christie's |access-date=5 January 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151017081445/http://artist.christies.com/Zainul-Abedin-8989-bio.aspx#loadProfileContent |archive-date=17 October 2015}}</ref>

==Early life and education==
Abedin was born in Kishoreganj on 29 December 1914.<ref name="star56215">{{cite news |title=Zainul Abedin's birth centenary event starts |url=http://www.thedailystar.net/zainul-abedins-birth-centenary-event-starts-56215 |access-date=5 January 2016 |work=The Daily Star |date=20 December 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160105161823/http://www.thedailystar.net/zainul-abedins-birth-centenary-event-starts-56215 |archive-date=5 January 2016}}</ref> Much of his childhood was spent near the scenic banks of the [[Brahmaputra River]]. The Brahmaputra would later appear in many of his paintings and be a source of inspiration all throughout his career. Many of his works framed ''Brahmaputra'' and a series of watercolors that Abedin did as his tribute to the river earned him the Governor's gold medal in an all-India exhibition in 1938. This was the first time when he came under spotlight and this award gave Abedin the confidence to create his own visual style.<ref name=":0">{{cite encyclopedia |last=Manzoorul Islam |first=Syed |author-link=Syed Manzoorul Islam |editor1-last=Islam |editor1-first=Sirajul |editor1-link=Sirajul Islam |editor2-last=Jamal |editor2-first=Ahmed A.|encyclopedia=Banglapedia |title=Abedin, Zainul |url=http://en.banglapedia.org/index.php?title=Abedin,_Zainul |date=16 June 2014 |edition=2nd |publisher=Asiatic Society of Bangladesh |location=Dhaka |access-date=10 January 2016 }}</ref>

In 1933, Abedin was admitted to the Government School of Art in [[Calcutta]] (now [[Government College of Art & Craft]], Kolkata, [[India]]). Here for five years he learned British/ European academic style and later he joined the faculty of the same school after his graduation. He was the first Muslim student to obtain first class distinction from the school.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://newagebd.net/81098/shilpacharya-zainul-abedins-birth-centenary-today/|title=Shilpacharjo Zainul Abedin's birth centenary today|last1=Islam|first1=Monwarul|date=29 December 2014|work=New Age|access-date=5 January 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150629091748/http://newagebd.net/81098/shilpacharya-zainul-abedins-birth-centenary-today/|archive-date=29 June 2015}}</ref> He was dissatisfied with the oriental style and the limitations of European academic style and this led him towards realism. In 1948, with help from a few colleagues, he founded an art institute in Dhaka. Back then, there were no art institutes in the city. Soon after, it went on to be considered the best art institute in Pakistan during its early years. He worked in the Pakistani government for a while.<ref name="dawn776951">{{cite news |url=http://www.dawn.com/news/776951/portrait-of-an-artist-in-divided-south-asia |title=Portrait of an artist in divided South Asia |work=[[Dawn (newspaper)|DAWN]] |location=Karachi |date=6 January 2013 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160105164034/http://www.dawn.com/news/776951/portrait-of-an-artist-in-divided-south-asia |archive-date=5 January 2016 |access-date=10 January 2016 }}</ref> He taught at the institute and among his students was Pakistani artist Mansur Rahi.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.frontline.in/static/html/fl2624/stories/20091204262408800.htm|title=Gentle Rainbow|last=Chatterjee|first=Partha|date=4 December 2009|work=Frontline|access-date=10 January 2016}}</ref> He also taught Bangladeshi artists such as [[Monirul Islam (artist)|Monirul Islam]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.observerbd.com/details.php?id=175688|title=Artist Monirul Islam conferred Shilpacharya Zainul Abedin Shammanana|date=2018-12-30|website=Daily Observer|language=en}}</ref> and [[Mohammad Kibria]].<ref>{{cite news |last=Haq |first=Fayza |url=http://archive.thedailystar.net/magazine/2011/07/01/feature.htm |title="To sir, with love"– Kibria: Immortal in our hearts |location=Dhaka |work=The Daily Star |date=1 July 2011 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131027092104/http://archive.thedailystar.net/magazine/2011/07/01/feature.htm |archive-date=27 October 2013 |access-date=10 January 2016 }}</ref>

After completing his two years of training from [[Slade School of Fine Art]] in London, he began a new style, the 'Bengali style', where the main features were: folk forms with their geometric shapes, sometimes semi-abstract representation, and the use of primary colors. But he lacked the sense of perspective. Later he realized the limitations of folk art, so he went back to the nature, rural life and the daily struggles of man to make art that would be realistic but modern in appearance.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.dhakacourier.com.bd/shilpacharya-zainul-abedins-39th-death-anniversary/ |title=Shilpacharya Zainul Abedin's 39th death anniversary |work=Dhaka Courier |location=Dhaka |date=4 June 2015 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160110030628/http://www.dhakacourier.com.bd/shilpacharya-zainul-abedins-39th-death-anniversary/ |archive-date=10 January 2016 |access-date=10 January 2016 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://newagebd.net/80948/museum-displays-100-artworks-of-shilpacharya/ |title=Museum displays 100 artworks of Shilpacharya |work=[[New Age (Bangladesh)|New Age]] |location=Dhaka |date=29 December 2014 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160110171127/http://newagebd.net/80948/museum-displays-100-artworks-of-shilpacharya/ |archive-date=10 January 2016 |access-date=10 January 2016 }}</ref>

==Paintings==
[[File:Jainul Abedin Museum.jpg|right|thumb|Jainul Abedin Gallary]]

Among all the contemporary works of Abedin, his famine sketches of the 1940s are his most remarkable works. His famine painting set which, exhibited in 1944, brought him even more critical acclaim. The miserable situation of the starving people during the Great Famine of Bengal in 1943 touched his heart. He made his own ink by burning charcoal and used it on cheap, ordinary packing paper. He depicted those starving people who were dying by the road-side.<ref name="Alom193873"/> Abedin not only documented the famine, he also revealed the famine's sinister face through the skeletal figures of people fated to die of starvation.
<ref>{{cite news |last=Alom |first=Zahangir |url=http://www.thedailystar.net/fine-art-and-artists-through-the-eyes-of-fayza-haq-50833 |title=Fine art and artists through the eyes of Fayza Haq |work=The Daily Star |location=Dhaka |date=18 November 2014 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150208130702/http://www.thedailystar.net/fine-art-and-artists-through-the-eyes-of-fayza-haq-50833 |archive-date=8 February 2015 |access-date=10 January 2016 }}</ref>

Abedin depicted this inhuman story with very human emotions. These drawings became iconic images of human suffering. These sketches helped him find his way in a realistic approach that focused on the human suffering, struggle and protest. He was more socially aware focusing on the working class and their struggles.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.metmuseum.org/toah/hd/wepk/hd_wepk.htm |title=Modern Art in West and East Pakistan |last=Ali |first=Atteqa |work=Heilbrunn Timeline of Art History |publisher=The Metropolitan Museum of Art |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151231082924/http://www.metmuseum.org/toah/hd/wepk/hd_wepk.htm |archive-date=31 December 2015 |access-date=10 January 2016 }}</ref> The Rebel Cow marks a high point of that style. This particular brand of realism combines social inquiry and the protest with higher aesthetics. He was an influential member of the [[Calcutta Group]] of progressive artists and was friends with [[Huseyn Shaheed Suhrawardy|Shahid Suhrawardy]] and [[Ahmed Ali (writer)|Ahmed Ali]] of the [[Progressive Writers' Movement]].<ref>{{cite news |url=http://archive.thedailystar.net/newDesign/news-details.php?nid=236059 |title=Shilpacharya Zainul Abedin's 36th death anniversary observed |work=he Daily Star |location=Dhaka |date=29 May 2012 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160105174730/http://archive.thedailystar.net/newDesign/news-details.php?nid=236059 |archive-date=5 January 2016 |access-date=5 January 2016 }}</ref> He made modernist paintings of [[Santhal people]]. Notable among them is "Two Santhal Women".<ref>{{cite news |last=Bhasin |first=Tanushree |url=http://www.sunday-guardian.com/artbeat/south-asias-organic-brand-of-modernism |title=South Asia's organic brand of Modernism |work=Sunday Guardian |date=7 September 2013 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131105231610/http://www.sunday-guardian.com/artbeat/south-asias-organic-brand-of-modernism |archive-date=5 November 2013 |access-date=5 January 2016 }}</ref>

He visited Palestinian camps in Syria and Jordan in 1970 and made 60–70 paintings of the refugees there.<ref>{{cite news |last=Zaman |first=Mustafa |url=http://archive.thedailystar.net/magazine/2004/12/04/cover.htm |title=The Artist of People's Struggle |work=Star Weekend Magazine |location=Dhaka |date=24 December 2004 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160105174419/http://archive.thedailystar.net/magazine/2004/12/04/cover.htm |archive-date=5 January 2016 |access-date=5 January 2016 }}</ref> He also painted the [[1970 Bhola cyclone]] that devastated [[East Pakistan]].<ref name="dawn776951"/>

==Liberation movement==
[[File:Joynul Tomb.A.M.R.jpg|thumb|Abedin's tomb]]
He was involved in the [[Bengali Language Movement]] of East Pakistan.<ref name="indianexpress"/> Abedin was involved in the [[Bangladesh liberation war]] movement. He was at the forefront of the cultural movement to re-establish the [[Bengal]]i identity, marginalized by the [[Pakistan]] government. In 1969, Abedin painted a scroll using [[Chinese ink]], watercolor and wax named [[Nabanna (painting)|Nabanna]]. This was to celebrate the ongoing non-cooperation movement.<ref name=":0" />

==Post-independence era==
In 1974 he received Honorary [[Doctor of Letters]] degree from the [[University of Delhi]], India.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.thedailystar.net/star-weekend/mad-genius/zainul-abedin-157657 |title=Zainul Abedin |work=[[The Daily Star (Bangladesh)|The Daily Star]] |location=Dhaka |date=16 October 2015 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160118081856/http://www.thedailystar.net/star-weekend/mad-genius/zainul-abedin-157657 |archive-date=18 January 2016 |access-date=18 January 2016 }}</ref> In 1975, he founded the Folk Art Museum at [[Sonargaon]] in [[Narayanganj]], and Zainul Abedin Sangrahashala, a gallery of his own works in [[Mymensingh]].<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.dhakatribune.com/entertainment/2013/dec/28/shilpacharya-zainul-abedin%E2%80%99s-100th-birthday-today |title=Shilpacharya Zainul Abedin's 100th birthday today |work=[[Dhaka Tribune]] |location=Dhaka |date=28 December 2013 |access-date=18 January 2016 }}</ref> In 1982, 17 of the 70 pictures housed in Zainul Abedin Sangrahashala were stolen. Only 10 were later recovered. His famous painting "Study of a Crow" (Ink Wash) in the collection of Professor Ahmed Ali is listed in the book ''Arts in Pakistan'' by Jalaluddin Ahmed, 1952, including an exclusive monologue on him published by FOMMA, [[Karachi]], along with his many Famine Series paintings of 1943.

==Personal life and death==
Abedin was married to Jahanara Abedin.<ref name="star56215"/> He developed lung cancer and died on 28 May 1976 in Dhaka. ''Two faces'' was his last painting, completed shortly before his death.<ref name="Alom193873"/> He was buried beside the Dhaka University Central Mosque.<ref name="centenary">{{cite news |url=http://www.theindependentbd.com/printversion/details/28382 |title=Shilpacharya Zainul Abedin's birth centenary today|work=[[The Independent (Bangladesh)|The Independent]] |location=Dhaka |date=29 December 2015 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160105180040/http://www.theindependentbd.com/printversion/details/28382 |archive-date=5 January 2016 |access-date=18 January 2016 }}</ref>

==Gallery==
<gallery widths="170px" heights="170px">
File:ZainulAbedin1971.jpg|[[Bangladesh Liberation war]], 1971
File:The struggle sculpture at Sonargaon Folklore Museum.JPG|Sculpture based on the painting ''The Struggle''
Zainul Abedin Sculpture.jpg|Zainul Abedin Sculpture, Sonargaon
File:Struggle of Bullock, sculpture in Sonargaon 02.jpg|Struggle of Bullock, sculpture in Sonargaon 02
</gallery>
{{See also|List of paintings by Zainul Abedin}}

==Legacy==
In 2009, a crater on the planet [[Mercury (planet)|Mercury]] was named [[Abedin (crater)|Abedin]] after the painter.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://planetarynames.wr.usgs.gov/Feature/14574?__fsk=-2061494197 |title=Abedin |work=Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature |publisher= United States Geological Survey |date=7 March 2011 |access-date=18 January 2016 }}</ref> His birthday was celebrated in Bangladesh, with a festival in Dhaka University and children's art competition in Shilpacharya Zainul Abedin Sangrahashala (art gallery).<ref>{{cite news |last=Alom |first=Zahangir |url=http://www.thedailystar.net/arts-entertainment/event/zainul-utshab-2015-194164 |title=Zainul Utshab 2015 |work=[[The Daily Star (Bangladesh)|The Daily Star]] |location=Dhaka |date=30 December 2015 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160105181349/http://www.thedailystar.net/arts-entertainment/event/zainul-utshab-2015-194164 |archive-date=5 January 2016 |access-date=18 January 2016 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Isalm |first=Aminul |url=http://www.thedailystar.net/arts-entertainment/arts/shilpacharyas-birth-anniversary-celebrated-mymensingh-190108 |title=Shilpacharya's birth anniversary celebrated in Mymensingh |work=[[The Daily Star (Bangladesh)|The Daily Star]] |location=Dhaka |date=21 December 2015 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160105183158/http://www.thedailystar.net/arts-entertainment/arts/shilpacharyas-birth-anniversary-celebrated-mymensingh-190108 |archive-date=5 January 2016 |access-date=18 January 2016 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.thedailystar.net/year-long-zainul-festival-at-shilpakala-academy-5421 |title=Year long Zainul festival at Shilpakala Academy |work=[[The Daily Star (Bangladesh)|The Daily Star]] |location=Dhaka |date=5 January 2014 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140112130628/http://www.thedailystar.net/year-long-zainul-festival-at-shilpakala-academy-5421 |archive-date=12 January 2014 |access-date=18 January 2016 }}</ref> His sketch was auctioned at auction house [[Bonhams]].<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.dawn.com/news/1186628 |title=Fire sale auction of Pakistani masters in London |work=[[Dawn (newspaper)|DAWN]] |date=7 June 2015 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150919013130/http://www.dawn.com/news/1186628 |archive-date=19 September 2015 |access-date=18 January 2016 }}</ref> [[Zainul Abedin Museum]] in [[Mymensingh District|Mymensingh]], Bangladesh is dedicated to his work.

On December, 2014, Bangladeshi various socio-cultural organisations have arranged elaborate birth centenary programmes throughout the country.<ref name="centenary" /> On December 29, 2019, [[Google]] celebrated his 105th birthday with a [[Google Doodle]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.google.com/doodles/zainul-abedins-105th-birthday|title=Zainul Abedin's 105th Birthday|website=Google|date=29 December 2019}}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist|2}}

==External links==
{{commons}}
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20070113130757/http://ethikana.com/gallery/painting.htm Painting by Shilpacharjya Zainul Abedin]
*[http://www.jolrong.com/zainul.abedin Zainul Abedin @ Gallery Jolrong]
* {{cite book |last=Islam |first=Syed Manzoorul |year=2012 |chapter=Abedin, Zainul |chapter-url=http://en.banglapedia.org/index.php?title=Abedin,_Zainul |editor1-last=Islam |editor1-first=Sirajul |editor1-link=Sirajul Islam |editor2-last=Jamal |editor2-first=Ahmed A. |title=Banglapedia: National Encyclopedia of Bangladesh |edition=Second |publisher=[[Asiatic Society of Bangladesh]]}}

{{Artists of Bangladesh}}
{{Pride of Performance for Arts}}
{{Bengal famine of 1943}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Abedin, Zainul}}
[[Category:Zainul Abedin| ]]
[[Category:1914 births]]
[[Category:1976 deaths]]
[[Category:Bengali male artists]]
[[Category:Bangladeshi artists]]
[[Category:Muslim artists]]
[[Category:Modern painters]]
[[Category:Artists from Dhaka]]
[[Category:20th-century Bangladeshi painters]]
[[Category:20th-century male artists]]
[[Category:People from Dhaka]]
[[Category:People from Kishoreganj District]]
[[Category:Bangladeshi expatriates in the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:People of the Bangladesh Liberation War]]
[[Category:National Professors of Bangladesh]]
[[Category:Government College of Art & Craft alumni]]
[[Category:University of Calcutta alumni]]
[[Category:University of Calcutta faculty]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Pride of Performance]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Independence Day Award]]
[[Category:Bengali Muslims]]
[[Category:Bangladeshi Muslims]]
[[Category:Honorary Fellows of Bangla Academy]]

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Zainul Abedin