Jogen Chowdhury

An artist who elevates every day to the level of sublime, Jogen Chowdhury is known to sensitively romanticize the commonplace. At the same time, his works portray human imperfections and flaws in their full-bodied intensity. As opposed to the stereotypical portrayal of women, he depicts sensuousness with an utmost truthful and raw stance. Chowdhury chooses to showcase the seamier side of human nature and lays bare the harsh realities of life.

Born 1939,  in the Faridpur city of undivided Bengal, Chowdhury had completed his education from the Government College of Art and Craft, Kolkata. Furthermore, he pursued his later training at the L’Ecole Nationale Superior des Beaux-Arts, Paris on a scholarship by the French government.

Chowdhury’s art has a strong influence on the trauma and alienation of partition, which he had unfortunately experienced firsthand. The sense of detachment and isolation that one gets to see in his figures becomes a microcosm of the essence of the socio-political realities of the period. Technically, his works are influenced by the linear Kalighat pat tradition. Being a master in linear rendition in a distorted manner, he hints at the character of his subjects. 

Essentially, Chowdhury's figures develop exaggerated physical characteristics that reveal a lot about psychological state. In addition, they become running critical commentaries on the immediate cultural milieu. He is known for his remarkable ability to skillfully integrate traditional imagery with the modern sensibility of contemporary painting.

Chowdhury has exhibited widely in India and abroad. He has been felicitated with many prestigious awards including the Prix le France de la Jeune in Paris and the Kalidas Samman by the Government of Madhya Pradesh, India.

Jogen Chowdhury lives and works in Santiniketan.