The Life and Time of an Unknown Indian

Little about Me ( Albert Ashok )

(All I want to become a Perfect human being through my Art and Literature. And this is my dream! I have a dream to be in England, and live there for some time and learn the English heritage of art and culture. So, I am waiting for the day yet to come. I want also to learn the basic traditional culture particularly art and literature of different nation, tribes, etc., and the life styles of common people in different countries.)

MY LIFE :A short stint ( probably 9 months ) as a refugee I took shelter at today’s renowned painter Bijon Choudhury’s house. I was a runaway boy, I escaped my home town Agartala in Tripura, North Eastern India, to become a famous artist like Satyajit Roy (film maker). At Bijon Choudhury’s House I had the first introduction about Fine arts, before that I had least and vague idea about Art. And it was 1978 to 1980. After than, I had worst time in my life. Life came down on footpath or sidewalk, No food, water, clothing and shelter. Literally I begged door to door for a fistful morsel and work chance.It was beginning of a dawn in my life. I could not draw things ,and I cherished a dream of becoming an artist and a writer, I had no formal school education, I was not fit for any better work under moving fan and on chair and table, All people around me tried to find some menial or unskilled domestic work for me, and that was also not available. I decided, I have to become a king (artist), so, I must put importance to buy its credibility and groom my self fit for the anointing and not meddle or try my hand on other kind of jobs.I started my life as a domestic boy in a family, scrubbing floor, washing kitchen-ware, helping in kitchen etc. Soon my days of unskilled work were over, I got chance in a film Distributors office as a designer.as I was looking for an art or design oriented job.

From 1980 to 1982 two years I worked as film poster designer. I got the jobs through Pintoo Datta.I came to know him through some short lived fellow acquaintances or friends. I owe much to him. He was a publicity officer in a film distributor company named Damani Pictures, Dhamatala (Opposite G C Laha’ paint shop). His kindness led me to a crossroad . I started to learn drawing and painting at the same time I earn all on my own. I saw other people’s works and tried to follow them. It was also a short stint and the jobs I had to quit . A crisis again appeared , and placed me where I was before without a proper shelter.I started knocking door to door at publishing houses, and stuck there somehow,From 1982 my life as an artist / designer/ illustrator started working and up to 2006. This long period is my life’s vital time. I had no option, what came straight way I had to accept and face consequences, crossed the hurdle races, scoring 50%. The rainbow colours (vibgyor) has coloured me, soiled me. I have built myself, learnt art and literature, Music( ragas , folk, pop and instrument ), dance (kathak and kathakali) English language, and about communism (Marx and Engels). My eyes were soaked in dream ,I tried to raise myself as a perfect human being, not an artist or writer, I studied various subject from mysticism to astro-physics,,The book ‘Begone Godmen’ by Dr. Kavoor and Stephen Hawking’s Brief History of Time helped me realise this universe.I started Painting from 1986 with oils, very realistic in nature, tried to follow Salvador Dali, Pablo Picasso, Paul Klee, John Miro, Henri Moore (Sculptor) Henri Emile Benoit Matisse, Nirode Mazumdar, Nikhil Biswas, Bijon Choudhury, Rabin Mondal, Amrita Sher-gil, Francis Newton Souza, George Kyt , African folk-art-mask, and Indian traditional and folk art.I have been most impressed and influenced by our temple art like Khajuraho and others, The voluminous and solidity of sculpture on the temple wall writes significance of life, it gives me an aesthetical beauty to my eyes. and a rhythm to my mind. I always eager to rediscover it from our real life and society.I had studied more than I practiced. In short, I had no privilege, or opportunities after days toiling for living and fending for my family. I had no money, no support, no parents or relative, nothing! It was my hurdle race all for my dream to materialize .Though my mother tongue is North Eastern Bengali (a local dialect of coomilla, now in Bangladesh) I started writing (1989) poems in English in leading periodicals from Delhi and Mumbai ( SUN, JETSET ) My first book of poetry ( Ravishing Youth 300) was been published in 1990, .( Now I think the book was a rubbish).This English book of poetry gave me honour and a place among learned and educated people I wrote articles on art and literature for many periodicals, Reviewed many prominent painters works exhibited in galleries , wrote stories and poetry, worked as a translator for an American theological magazine for two years, founded an art school and ran it for 5 years then handed over it to an organization and local club, in Bally, Belanagar. Worked as figure drawing teacher in a diploma college at Beliaghata. And this is short account of my life.Hobbies: Art , literature, any type of cultural activities, Reading books on different type of subject etc.Occupation/service:At different advertising agency, press, publishing houses, and as a freelance artist in film distributor companies, periodicals, publishing houses, art teacher, painter , art critique, essay writer, translator etc.Specialisation at : Drawing , painting , Cover designing, illustration , comics , cartoon .Experienced on : Writing Books, Exhibiting of paintings.


Updated on 10 may 2012-----------------------------------------------
Albert Ashok  (Biodata)

Date of Birth : 7^th  February 1961

Education: Self - taught

Occupation/service (1982 –2011) : At different advertising agency, press, publishing houses, and as a freelance artist in film distributor companies, periodicals, art teacher, painter , art critique, essay writer, translator etc.

Specialisation at : Drawing , painting , Cover designing, illustration , comics , cartoon .

Award and Honour : In 2008, ArtVenture, a philanthropic world organization in association with ARTICLE 19, based in London and Singapore launched the ‘Freedom to Create Prize’. This international prize is for artists who use their talents to promote human rights, including the freedom of expression, empathy, equality and understanding. Art venture had projected Albert Ashok as their featured artist in their global electronic mediums. It is a matter of honour  and achievement,  because, about 1000 artists from 89 countries had participated in that competition.

Awarded and conferred 'Satya Shiva Sundar' , a highest honour by The district Council of Culture, Kalahandi, and Lalitkala Academy, Odisha, India, in 2010.

CREDENTIALS   from 1999 to 2011

PARTICIPATION :

1) 64 th Annual All India Fine Arts exhibition 1999 SANJOG at Academy of fine Arts.

2) Annual Art Exhibition, 1999,West Bengal State Akademy of Dance, Drama, Music,and Visual Arts at Academy of Fine Arts. Calcutta

3) Annual Exhibition,Rajya Charukala Parshad , Tathya o Sanskriti vibhag, at Rabindra Sadan, Calcutta.

4) Barshik shilpa kala pradarshani1999, Pashim Banga Rajya,at Nandan Calcutta

5) 65 th Annual All India Fine Arts exhibition2000 at Academy of Fine Arts Calcutta.

6) Poetry on Canvas a workshop at NSHM Academy Campus , on 21st, 22nd March 2003,conducted and arranged by NSHM Academy.Durgapur,Arrah,Shibtala 713212 WB.

7) 71st Annual All India Fine Arts exhibition2006 at Academy of fine Arts. Calcutta

GROUP EXHIBITION

Academy of Fine Arts Calcutta . from 2002 to 2006

Chitramoyee State gallery of Fine Arts kavury hills, Hyderabad ,A.P.10th to 16th April 2007

Birla Art And Culture—20 may –25 May 2008 Kolkata, West Bengal.

'MoNSooN ART SHoW 2008' KAMALNAYAN BAJAJ ART GALLERY 226, Nariman Point, Mumbai – 400 021

Academy of Fine Arts, Kolkata- 30 June to 6^th July 2011 Creative org, by Bengal Painters

Chemould Art Gallery, Kolkata – 19 July to 23 July 2011 The Passion, org by Raw Foundation

Chemould Art Gallery, Kolkata – 12Oct to 16Oct 2011, Essence of Expression, org by Raw Foundation

Chemould Art Gallery, Kolkata – 17 March to 21 March 2012 Love Labour and Conception, org by Raw Foundation

Art Camps :

Hyderabad ( Hyderabad Art society) 18 april to 20^th april 2007at Mini Hall, 2^nd floor, Rabindra bharati

Dhanbad (A National level Art Camp), 19th to 21 st March 2010,

Odisha (All India Painting exhibition and workshop),3rd to 9th may 2010,

Tripura Sabrum (A solo oneday exhibition) 20 nov 2010,

Deoghar (Kala mela : Art Camp) Jharkhand, 13th to 15th march 2011  and many more..

PRIVATE COLLECTIONS :

Toronto (Canada) Herts (London) Delhi, Hyderabad , Kolkata (Sodepur) , Assam and Tripura (Sabroom), Ireland.

WORKSHOP art and literature

1. CREATIVE ART MEET at Mirinia Resort near Science City Calcutta

2. Soumen Charu Kala Utsab Bali sadharan Pathagar 383 G T Road Bally, Howrah- 711201 in 2004,to 2010

3. ' Monmartre Artist Camp 'at Calcutta Book Fair 2003 ,2006, Publishers guild.at Maidan Calcutta

4. Little magazine mela ---2003 to 11 5th year,Pashim Banga Bangla Academy ,11 to 15 Jan 2003,West Bengal State Government , Eastern Region Cultural Center, and Informention Center.

Excluding numerous participations in poets confluences in various places held through out West Bengal as poetry reading with local writer and poets.

Concluding :

Albert Ashok, A renowned artist, poet and an editor of an English literary Magazine in India. Though his mother tongue is Bengali he loves to express his emotion in English, his most poems are in English. His first Book of poems  ‘ Ravishing youth 300’ in english  was published in 1990, before that he used to write poems in periodicals like ‘The SUN’  a tabloid weekly, published from Delhi.

“From 1982 to till date I am working as a full time artist and writer. There are about a hundred Books on drawing and paintings, written by me and every year about a few100,000 school and college students are using them,I used to  take classes in diploma school and colleges as figure drawing and paintings teacher. At present I run a school for senior students at my studio.”

Albert Ashok has written many books, published by different publishers, he has about a 100 books to his credit - 7 of poems, and most books on drawing and paintings used by  school, college and advance student of Art. His books are most popular in West Bengal, neighbouring states of India and Bangladesh. He writes essays in periodicals/ magazine on art and literature, reviews ongoing painting  exhibitions in galleries.

As a profession or occupation he has served two decades ( 1982 – 2007) as a freelance artist in publication industry in college Street, Kolkata, doing all sorts of illustration and cover designs for children and adult books.

An ex-teacher of figure drawing SAKSHAR KALA BHAVAN, Beliaghata and others at Uttarpara, Hooghly.  At present, he runs a hobby school for advance student of Art  in Kolkata at his residence.

books published

There are numerous poems  stories, and articles scattered in little magazine published from various places which are yet to get a book form,

1) Ravishing Youth 300  my first book of poetry  in  English , Published by :Spectrum Cal 700009

2)Bhvnai Kamnai Jatnai Bengali  book of poetry ,published by:

3)Shatabdir Shesh Surjya               do           Published by

4)Phire Phire Chai Mukti Ache Kothai              Published by  Sahitya barta , nabin pal lane cal.

5) Baruder kabi Ami Ami Barud              Published by:

6) Bhalabasa ekhon  daou daou shikha  published by:Biswa jnan,  13, Tamer Lane Calcutta 9

BOOKS ARE ENLISTED FOR SCHOOL CHILDREN

1) Ami  anki   1 ,2,3,4 parts.   Published by : Ranjan Publication , 8/1 A Shayama Charan Dey Street Calcutta 700073

2) Dekho Aar Anko   1,2,3,4parts

3)Ranger mela Aankar Khela  1,2,3,4 parts

4)Aanka Shekho Pencile    1,2,3,4 parts

5)Esho Anki Pestele  1,2,3,4 parts

6)Chabi Dekhe Chabi Aankho    1,2,3,4 parts   Published by : Basak Book Stores,Megdoot,   4 Shayama Charan Dey Street, Calcutta 700073

7)Rang Bahar  1,2,3,4 parts

8)  Alpana  1,2 parts  Published by : Pragati Publishers, Tamer Lane, Calcutta

9) Rang O Rekha 1,2,3,4 parts   Published by : Deepayan, Keshab  Sen Street, Calcutta

10)  Super Pastel Scenery          published by: Siksha Niketan Sitaram Ghosh Street,Calcutta

11) Super Colour Scenery  

12)  Aanko ar rang    Published by  :Anubhava    12/6Tamer lane,Calcutta700009

BOOKS FOR GENERAL PEOPLE

1)Kane Sajano o Mehendi  Published by : Shiksha Niketan ---- 50,Sitaram ghosh Street, Calcutta--9

2)  Utsabe alpana 

3)     Kane  sajano  Published by :Nirmal book Agency :  89,Mahatma gandhi road, Calcutta700007

4)Alpana 

5) mehendi      published by:  Mahajati prokashan   13,Bankim Chatterjee Street, Calcutta73

6)Kane sajano

7)*******************   Published by;   J .N.Chakraborty & co : 13,Bankim chatterjee Street ,Calcutta-700073

8) **************

9)***************

Landscape And Sceneries

1) Nature Study       Published by :Biswa Bani Prokashani - 79/1B, Mahatama Gandhi Road, Calcutta

2) Pencil Drawing For Young Artist       Published by: Skylark : 15Bankim Chatterjee Street Calcutta 73 

3)Super Scenery     Published by  Siksha Niketan  Sitaram Ghish Street Calcutta

4)Super Composition  1, 2 Parts

5FOR ADVANCED STUDENTS OF ARTS

1)Drawing Chabi Tairir Gathan Tantra   Published by     Biswabani  79/1B Mahatma Gandhi Road , Calcutta700009

2)Charukalar Protham Padakshep

3)  Nude Study

4) Figure Study

5) Jal Rang Lagabar Kaida o Niyam

6) portrait Study

7) Drawing Course  ( prokriti, Pashu,o Pakhi) Published by:J.N.Chakraborty & Co Bankim Chatterjee Street, Calcutta

8) Drawing Course  (Jantu Janour)

9) Drawing Course  (Manab Deh)

10) Animal Figure  Published by :Siksha Niketan - 50,Sitaram Ghosh Street Calcutta-- 9

11)Human Figure

12) Water Colour in Natural Scenery  Published by ; Skylark

 13) FIGURE DRAWING for advanced student  in English Text Published by:Bhuniya Book Distributor. 8 ,Shayama Charan Dey Street ,Calcutta700073

There are many books that have no records and now  out of print, not available in market ,a few I can name  as :

Eklabya a book of comics published by Golden Comics ,college st  subra mazumdar and baby roy

Tarjan,suku, axa etc published by Ashok roy, from APP keshab sen st

Birds figure, colour composition, flowers and fruits human figure 2, animalfigure 2 , super paintings

Published by Shiksha niketan 2007

 _______________________________________________________________

ALBERT ASHOK
email - albertashok@yahoo.com
website - www.myartprofile.com/code_a2z

You can see my works (click on the topics)

Life and works my organisation for social service my blog defend Freedom of Expression

charcoal drawing

my books , paintings and charcoals and etc.

my organisation all-India PEN Center Writers and Artists

my life my works

######################



The Baul
Size 4 x 6 feet , acrylic on canvas

bull in the twilight zone

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
woman by the lotus pond


---------------------------------------------------------the painting for sale
unknown bird in the cage

Painting is mirror of life and time

My Blog sites that reflect my life and work:
I am a painter and social worker, I am very much conscious about national and international political, social and economical events. I am always motivated apolitically. As an Artist or a poet, I become emotionally charged when I see rights of a human being is at stake and trouble, or when human rights are violated. I believe in social mores in terms of national and international cause and aspect, I don’t like to put somebody in troubles or disturb someone for my small interest or benefit. I love to avoid personal and social conflicts, but can not deny my involvement in protesting a social unjustice . So, I find my subject of painting and poetry from social unrest and unjust.
And when I write a piece of poetry or paint a canvas, I feel an urge to make it public. I send it to publication houses like who publishes periodicals ( weekly, monthly, bi-monthly etc. ). I like to disseminate the message of my writing piece. And when I paint a canvas the same treatment I apply. I exhibit in galleries and invite paper and electronic medias. I sell my works for my living.

One can see the reflection of national and international events in my work from my early works. I wrote first an international cause in my poem when Tinanmen square was washed with students blood. From then on , till today I have done a lot. My expression never depends on one style or medium, sometime I write poem sometime I draw cartoon, sometime Paintings, One thing I should add that many people discourage me about the subject of my art works. I understand it, because it is a fear of backlash or any kind of injury. But till today, I did not confront any bold opposition,

I fear religious, political and government’s evil intention. A few Paintings that I am Promoting have certain special message of human rights and freedom of expression.

When the Taliban Allqaida beheaded Daniel Pearl in 2002, it had shocked me violently, I tried to generalize the incident in my understanding, and tried to forget. For, many have been beheaded by this evil force in the name of religion and politics. We are quite helpless against this international brute force. At the same time I could not control my emotion, I started drawing a lot, in direct and abstract manner, I realized there should be a message that these sorts of heinous crime can not win , they are frustrated people are being misguided, No one should join them. I painted a water colour 'three depressed terrorist or militants', another in remembrance of wall street journalist Daniel Pearl 'The killers' .

Further, I wanted to convey the message ‘ stop terrorism’, save human Rights.



The Killers : a picture of human right violation


The bull in the twilight zone: A destructive force creats terrorism



The dream of a goat: peaceful common people are like innocent goats, they are tied




Religious terror force sometime lead to utter destruction and chaos


The mask of sacrifice: In the name of god innocents are sacrificed, it happens in our society

I had painted another ‘ mask of sacrifice’ water colour, the message in it ‘ stop killing innocent’ In the paintings, one can see the depiction of severed heads of goats, a mask of godess, and tools where the victim is attached for sacrifice. In our society , innocents, who are common people, are being abused, sacrificed, in the name of religion, politics and other psuedo name .


Three depressed terrorists: An example of exploitation of teenage and youth emotion by religious fanatics and political opportunists


For Freedom of Expression and human rights http://newsfreedomofexpression.blogspot.com/
http://freenewsfreespeech.blogspot.com/

my organisation: Rainbow Artists and Writers Foundation http://rainbowartistsandwritersfoundation.blogspot.com/

my unpublished cartoon : http://cartoonin.blogspot.com/
all IndiaPEN west bengal : http://penwestbengal.blogspot.com/ International PEN

art exhibition :http://artworksexhibition.blogspot.com/
charcoal work : http://charcoalforms.blogspot.com/

gallery address and about us : http://rawfoundation.blogspot.com/

my painting and credentiallty : http://albertashokpaintings.blogspot.com/
painting biodata http://collectpainting.blogspot.com/
water colour http://albertpainter.blogspot.com/
Life biodata credentiality http://albertashoksart.blogspot.com/

Little about me:
My name is Albert Ashok. I am an Indian, Bengali is my mother tongue, I live in Kolkata, West Bengal. I call myself— ‘I am an artist’, yes! People also call me by the word ‘artist’! I feel proud and honoured!
From my early boyhood I cherished a dream to become a professional artist. Since then I fell prey for misfortune, my struggle for existence started against all sorts of odds and adverse current/ force. My parent did not like my inclination toward arts, because we were poor , illiterate and ignorant people, and then we used to live in Tripura , a backward state in Northeastern India, among illiterate class and tribal people, a hilly region and full of forest. I am talking about the year 1965 and onward.
So, far I can remember, my father had no enough income or money to feed us. Anyway I got in touch with Art and literature and started to spin a dream of becoming a famous arttist. Dream brings a great happiness in human mind! And Everyone loves dreaming. I wanted to shed labour and earn money to fill my stomach and buy things I like .I did not want to be a burden of my father. I ran away from my hometown in Tripura in search of food and shelter, I had no specific plan to arrive in Kolkata, but felt reaching in Kolkata could be good to me and settle.
In 1978, I left my parent, house, friends with tearfull eyes, without telling anybody. I am a simple, poor farmer’s son! No education! No provisions! Nothing! I reached In kolkata somehow! A quite unknown place! I had suffered so much inexplicable afflictions, hardship. I started my career as a domestic help boy, doing house errands and menial jobs. But I remained attached with my dream. As, only dream could have brought me happiness in dire stress and distress.
Today, I have come a long way to look back! From 1980 to 2007 is 27 years; It is a retrospection of my life! A time to check in how much life had offered me and how much I could have collected, and how much I offered this society and how much I received in exchange from its bowl.
The food, water, shelter and social security these were the elements which drove me from my cozy home, made me separated from my beloved parents, and brought me here, still, I am looking for them! When I am in distress, go on starvation feel insecure and helpless I remember my country men, the most of it are hapless have no security to feed themselves two square meal a day, far from literacy and clothing. It is India! I know south Asian countries and African countries are no better state than ours. But where is the problem? Do we have less resource than western countries? I don’t think so!
see my paintings at www.myartprofile.com/code_a2z

My teacher Bijon Choudhury and me

Me, with two big canvases

At Kolkata Press Club, A felicitation ceremony of P E N (west bengal)

In a police launch , with a bands of writers and intelectuals

When writer Dibyendu Palit got Academy award we felicitated him in Bangla Academy Hall,
we (P E N) gave him his portrait done by me .

Poet Nirendranath Chakraborty is giving Deb kr Basu his portrait done by me

At Kolkata Press club

with Sandip Dutta (Little magazine research and library fame)

My 2nd paintings exhibition at Academy of Fine Arts, Kolkata .

at Bally, with Bijon Choudhury, Art camp ,Bally Sadharan Pathagar

with Dip Mukherjee at Murshidabad

with artist Anup Roy

At Kolkata Book Fair, Biswagyan stall, with Debu da' and others

The first meeting of artists, illustrators who work college st,book industry,we formed an artists organisation , Freelance Artists Guild

with Tarun Chakraborty and others

Iskra, i am reading my own poem at a funtion

at kolkata Book fair, i am reading my own poem



we walk for books

my friends and Debu Da


at poets confluence , Bandel