Jugul Kishore Talukder: A self-made artist

Jugal Kishore Talukder, a self-taught artist in Mymensingh, hopes that commercial art will flourish in the area.

Talukder began his career as commercial artist at Atharabari Building area in the town in 1963, and has been in this profession since then.

“I started as commercial artist but interestingly I received no training. I was devoted to drawing since my early life and this gave me the courage to start up on my own. My parents also encouraged me much to go into this profession,” says Talukdar.

“Early on I had to work on portraits, designs and logos, signboards and banners. When I had time I used to do pencil sketches as well.”

He has groomed over 20 talented artists during his career who have established themselves in this profession in Mymensingh and Dhaka.

Now the business of painting signboards and banners is not as popular as in the past, says Talukder.

In the last 15 years, the traditional commercial art form has slumped as digital art has become very popular, says Talukder.

Talukder recalls some talented commercial artists such as Poresh Majumder, Hemendra Das, Monindra Singh, Satyan Dey, Dhirendra Boiragi and Narayan Saha. “The artists shaped commercial art as a profession in Mymensingh,” he says.

“It was a golden opportunity for me to be introduced to prominent personalities like celebrity film artiste and director Soovas Dutta, artiste Professor Shahtab, internationally reputed photographer Nayebuddin Ahmed, poet Nirmalendu Goon, Professor Golam Samdani Koraishi and Professor Jatin Sarker,” he added.

Taluker is closely associated with several socio-cultural organisations in the town.