The muses of artist Farida Zaman

Born in Chandpur in 1953, renowned artist Farida Zaman depicts the riverine life of Bangladesh in her works. Her series, Sufia, captures the fascinating expressions of rural women, while her line drawings are inspired by Bangladeshi folk elements. The artist is an honourary professor at the Department of Drawing and Painting, Faculty of Fine Art, University of Dhaka.

Dr Zaman graduated from the same department in 1974 and as an ICCR scholar. She received her Master's in Fine Arts from the Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda, India, in 1978, before pursuing her doctoral degree from Visva-Bharati University in Santiniketan, India, in 1995. In a career spanning over five decades, she has exhibited her works in eight solo shows and more than 100 group exhibitions, both at home and abroad.

"The soil and soul appear as great muses in my works," says the artist. "Having taken tutelage from legendary artist KG Subramanyan, I have travelled around numerous places of Bangladesh and India, depicting them in paintings with diverse themes."

A painting by Dr Farida Zaman

For her outstanding contributions to Bangladeshi art, the Government of Bangladesh honoured her with the Ekushey Padak this year, while Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy conferred the Sultan Swarna Padak 2020 to her at Sultan Mancha, Narail, on January 27. She was also bestowed with the International Life Membership Award from 'Salon de Tokyo, Japan', and a Gold Medal with the title 'Excellent Artist of the World', from Beijing Olympic in 2008.                                                                      

Dr Zaman is a former Director, Institute of Fine Arts, University of Dhaka and the Chairman, Department of Drawing and Painting, Faculty of Fine Art, University of Dhaka. She was a member of the National Committee of Asian Art Biennale Bangladesh, a jury committee member of National Young Art Exhibition of Bangladesh and a founder member of 'Shako', a female artist association based in Dhaka.

She wrote the book, Adhunik Chitrakalay Lokoshilpokalar Probhab, published by Folklore Department, Bangla Academy. For the Love of Country, a book written about her by British writer Martin Bradly, is published by Panjeree Publications Limited. It was launched during her 8th solo art exhibition on the same title this year at the Nalini Kanta Bhattashali Gallery of Bangladesh National Museum.

Filmmakers Anwar and Jammy, along with the director Manzare Hassin Murad made the short film, Joler Silpo Monjuree (Water World), on her artistic journey in 2006. Jol Godhuly, another short film directed by Shabnam Ferdousy and produced by Bengal Foundation in 2004, is also based on her life and works.

Fukuoka Art Museum, Japan, Kusan International Art Gallery, Republic of Korea, Bangladesh National Museum, Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy, Shahid Smriti Museum, Rajshahi, Asiatic Society of Bangladesh, Bangabhaban (President House) and Bangladesh Bank, along with art enthusiasts both at home and abroad have collected her artworks.