Prokash Karmakar

Prokash Karmakar developed his artistic practice through reflections on life, personal traumatic experiences, and the socio-political events of India’s recent history. He initially learned painting at the atelier of his father, artist-teacher Prahlad Karmakar, before poverty and his father’s early death interrupted his formal artistic training. After briefly attending the Government College of Arts and Crafts, Calcutta, he worked as a book-cover designer and illustrator and later joined the army, leaving after two years to pursue painting. He learned watercolour techniques from Kamalaranjan Thakur and Dilip Das Gupta, while Nirode Majumdar introduced him to artistic and philosophical concepts and approaches to line and form. His first exhibition was held in 1959 at the Indian Museum, Calcutta. A 1969–70 fellowship took him to France, after which he developed figurative monochrome paintings. He received the Lalit Kala Akademi National Award in 1968 and passed away in 2014.