M. Anisuzzaman: Winner of Grand Prize

The Grand Prize winning work by M. Anisuzzaman (left). Photo: Mumit M.

Bangladeshi artist M. Anisuzzaman is the winner of Grand Prize at the 13th Asian Art Biennale '08, the most prestigious art exhibition and competition in Bangladesh, which has already earned plaudits in the international art circuit.
M. Anisuzzaman has won the award for his innovative woodcut block print titled "Complexity 59". Two of his recent works from a series -- Complexity 59 and "Complexity 60" -- are on display at the biennale.
The award winning work "Complexity 59" is a satire on unplanned urbanisation, making urban life complex.
Going over the theme of the work, Anisuzzaman told The Daily Star, "With sharp and delicate lines I've tried to portray some buildings under construction, which symbolically represent the current skyline of Dhaka."
"All of the works in the series depict the situations created by unplanned urbanisation," he added.
Anisuzzaman has been working on the "Complexity" series for the last few years. So far, he has completed 70 works. The series would have 100 works, hopes the artist. According to the artist, "I love to do series-based works, as there is more scope of experimentation on a certain theme."
Anisuzzaman informed that most of his recent works, including the award-winning one, were done during his stay in Japan under a scholarship programme awarded by the Japanese government.
The artist said, "I researched on woodcut prints in Japan. The scholarship has helped me to improve technically. I feel that my compositions are more polished and subtle compared to my early works."
"Apparently, my current style is confusing. Many have asked me whether my recent works are woodcut print or drawing or etching. These works have the quality of paintings, which seems to have drawn the attention of local and international art lovers," he added.
Besides, winning the top award twice at the Young Artists Exhibition in Bangladesh, Anisuzzaman has won two prizes in Japan and one in India.
M. Anisuzzaman is an Assistant Professor, Department of Printmaking, Faculty of Fine Arts, University of Dhaka.