SHEIKH MOHAMMED SULTAN (1923-1994)

A contemporary of Zainul Abedin and Kamrul Hassan, S. M. Sultan is considered a leading Modernist from Bangladesh. Sultan led a bohemian life where he longed for a world of happiness and contentment. Though much of his work depicts the toil and labor of farmers and fisherman in dark and bold oils, his watercolors, are bright and lively and feature idyllic scenes of nature and rural life. Sultan woked "heavily all over his canvas without leaving any empty space. His drawings are masterful in their economy and compactness." (S. M. Islam, Bangladesh Art: Collection of Contemporary Paintings, Dhaka, 2003, p. 53)

After attending the Government College of Art with the support of art critic and historian Shahed Suhrawardi, Sultan travelled throughout India, Kashmir, Pakistan and later in the early 1950s to America and England, to eventually return to his home in Narail in 1953. Recognition came late for Sultan; the first exhibition of his art was held in 1976. In the years to follow, he received the Ekushey Padak, the highest civilian honor in Bangladesh, 1982 and in 1989 a documentary film on his life, Adam Surat (Inner Strength) was released. To celebrate the 87th anniversary of his birth in January of this year, the Narail Government Victoria College hosted a seven day event that featured art competitions and exhibitions. On this occasion, Commissioner, Mohammad Moshiur Rahman, remarked, "Artist S. M. Sultan is our pride. His works have always inspired us and reminded us of the rich art and culture of Bangladesh." ('Seven Day Sultan Mela Begins in Narail', Priyo, 11 January 2012)