Shahabuddin gets highest French title

Internationally renowned Bangladeshi painter Shahabuddin Ahmed has been bestowed with France's highest civilian title for his contribution to Art in France and all around the world.

The Paris-based Bangladeshi artist has been conferred with "Chevalier De L'ordre Des Arts Et Des Lettres" (Knight in the Order of Fine Arts and Humanities) by the Ministry for Cultural Affairs and Communication of France.

"I was informed of winning the title by the ministry on July 6 this year while the formal ceremony will take place in Paris, France, the next month [September]. It is really a matter of great joy for me. I, along with my family, carry Bangladeshi passports. I hope the award will enhance the image of my country and inspire Bangladeshi people living across the world," said an elated Shahabuddin over the phone to this correspondent.

Shahabuddin Ahmed is the second Bangladeshi to receive the title. Globally famed mime maestro and film actor Partha Pratim Majumder first received the award in 2011.

Bold strokes, vibrant colours and figurative expressions are the hallmark of freedom fighter Shahabuddin's works. The conscience and the indomitable spirit of the Liberation War have frequently appeared as prominent connotations on his canvas.

Shahabuddin was born on September 11, 1950 and studied at the Academy of Fine Arts in Dhaka. He obtained scholarship to study at Ecole des beaux-arts de Paris. He was one of the fifty master painters of contemporary arts, and had been bestowed with an award at the Olympiad of Arts, Barcelona, in 1992.

He also received the Shadhinata Padak in 2000 and Bangla Academy Award in 1974.

His paintings delve into contemporary life and times. He is an optimist and this is evidently expressed in his paintings. This optimism was firmly embedded in Shahabuddin when he took part in the Liberation War of Bangladesh in 1971.

He has the capability to overcome constraints of time and space. In their dynamism his paintings depict fearless human figures that cut through the difficulties of life, which provide one the reason to live. The vibrancy and force of his brushwork highlight this aspect. Above all, his compositions are unmistakably musical and rhythmic.

Shahabuddin's works are displayed in many prestigious galleries around the globe.