Prokash Karmakar

BORN
October 20, 1933 Calcutta

DIED
February 25, 2014 Kolkata

EDUCATION QUALIFICATIONS
1953 Government College of Arts and Crafts, Calcutta

SELECTED GROUP EXHIBITIONS
2008 Tones of Bengal, Gallert G, and Janus Art Gallery
2008 Art of Bengal, Art Elements Gallery, New Delhi
2007 Exclusive Images, Kolkata Gallery, Calcutta
2007 Uninterrupted Journeys, Gitanjali Art Gallery, New Delhi
2007 Tales of Textures, Art Elements Gallery, New Delhi
2006 Drawing Exhibition: An Act of Art II, Priyasri Art Gallery, Mumbai
2006 Marks and Beyond, Nehru Centre, Mumbai
2006 Specters, Zen Gallery, Bangalore

PARTICIPATIONS
2011 Ethos V Indian Art through the Lens of History (1900 to 1980), Indigo Blue Art, Singapore
2011 Manifestations VI, Delhi Art Gallery, New Delhi
2011 Manifestations V, Delhi Art Gallery, New Delhi
2008 ArteCurate Mumbai Art Festival
1968, 65, 57 National Art Exhibition, Lalit Kala Akademi, New Delhi

HONORS AND AWARD
Abinendra Puraskar Award 2000
1976 Biria Academy of Art and Culture, Calcutta
1970 Rabindra Bharati University, Calcutta
1969-70 Scholarship to study in France
1968, 65, 57 National Art Exhibition, Lalit Kala Akademi, New Delhi

ABOUT THE ARTIST

Prakash Karmarkar came from a family of artists and his father was a renowned artist of his time. Unfortunately, all of his father's paintings were destroyed during the Hindu-Muslim riots of the 1940s, which also ruined his family. In 1949, his parents died, forcing him to abandon his studies at the Government College of Arts and Crafts in Calcutta. He joined the army for two years and then left to work as a graphic design manager for a medical company in Kolkata. Practically needy and desperate for a break, in 1956 he held a street exhibition, the first in the city, hanging his works on a corner.

In 1957, Karmarkar participated in the national art exhibition held in New Delhi. Here he received a prize for his watercolor. By then, he had also started doing more street exhibitions, which catapulted him into the spotlight. The artist was a close friend of several poets. He often sat with the poet Shakti Chattopadhyay and while the latter wrote her poem, Karmakar painted. Then, they would sell both works together on street corners. Karmarkar also worked in the studio of artist Nirode Mazumdar between 1964 and 67.

The artist formed a group called the Society of Contemporary Artists in 1962, but five years after its creation, the group began to disintegrate. By then, Karmarkar had received a French scholarship and went to study in Paris. As an artist, he is considered a revolutionary because he does not exhibit in art galleries. Throughout his artistic career, he has always exhibited on street corners. He says I don't want my paintings imprisoned between four walls.

Influenced by the works of Picasso and the classical impressionists, Karmarkar's work reflects the degenerate society and confusion that prevails in India today.

Prakash Karmarkar lived and worked in Calcutta. He passed away on February 25, 2014.

Notification - We do not usually display Prokash Karmakar's work, only send it to private art collectors and interested art buyers.

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