Prokash Karmakar [1933 – 2014]
Art & Deal Correspondent
24th February, 2014 saw the demise of an eminent Indian artist, Prokash Karmakar. Born in 1933 to an artistic family in Kolkata with a well-known artist-teacher for a father, Prokash Karmakar already had it in his genes. On completing his matriculation, Karmakar joined the Government College of Art, Calcutta, but was forced to quit out of poverty. He learnt the techniques of transparent and opaque water colors from Kamalaranjan Thakur, a former student of his father, and from Dilip Das Gupta. Karmakar’s artistic career began in the early 50s with his first exhibition held in 1959 on the railings of the Indian Museum, Calcutta. Living through famines and communal riots, Prokash’s works spoke of his experiences, reflecting both his aesthetic understanding and command on the canvas and his grid of experience. In 1969-70, Karmakar visited France on a fellowship to study art museums. The exposure gave the artist a fine amalgam of the rich inheritance of Indian art and the dynamic modern spirit. Best known for his landscapes and nudes, his works were influenced by Picasso and the classic impressionists. Karmakar won many prestigious awards – the Lalit Kala Akademi National Award, 1968; Rabindra Bharati University Award, 1970; Birla Academy of Art and Culture, Calcutta, 1976; AIFACS Award, 1996; and the Abanindra Puroskar by the Government of West Bengal, 2000.P rokashKarmakar died at 81of an age-related illness, leaving a void in the world of creative expression.
