The artist, in his black and white moments
Takir Hossain admires a photo collection
15 February 2008, 18:00 PM
Guru
Nasir Ali Mamun
Neer and Sharanee Ltd
Guru is a publication celebrating a good number of outstanding images of SM Sultan (1923-1994), a legendary artist of Bangladesh. The photos have been snapped by Nasir Ali Mamun, who spent ten years in pursuit of this loner artist and recorded his sufferings, struggle and ecstasy. For me personally, photography is pleasing not only as a matter of aesthetics but for the technical aspects of it as well: the lens choice, focus, shutter and aperture selection, film rewind, et cetera. He is very sensitive about the connection between subjects and techniques. Mamun's themes are renowned creative figures and personalities of the world and his camera has captured many outstanding moments in the lives of rare personalities.
Sultan was an introvert and preferred to be away from the crowd. His creative intensity and passion about art positioned him to being one of the outstanding painters in our country. The legendary artist had a unique style of living and had an approach to animals and birds different from that of others. It is often said that he could understand their language. Nasir Ali Mamun has been to S.M. Sultan's Narail home a number of times, when the artist was alive, with the objective of portraying him. He has captured Sultan in a diversity of moods and emotions --- ecstasy, sorrow, leisure, drawing on the floor, sharing with the villagers, at the tea garden, listening to otherworldly music, contemplation, playing a bamboo flute, smoking pot, drawing paintings, playing sitar, strolling in the local market and what not. These photographs disclose many concealed and hitherto unrevealed aspects of Sultan's life. The artist had a great affection for pure scenic beauty, animals, birds, plants, rural people and disadvantaged community in our bucolic ambience. These are the prime subjects on his canvas. Sultan was a mysterious figure for us as long as he lived. It was only after his death that many aspects of his life have gradually been discovered.
In the village of Masimdia in Narail district, by the banks of the river Chitra, Sultan lived in a century-old, dilapidated house in the company of animals, birds, turtles and snakes. The painter had already abjured the idea of family. He cared for birds, animals and foliage. In the house where the master painter lived there was no electricity and matters were compounded by a lack of hygiene. And yet Sultan was fully accustomed to being part of such an atmosphere.
Mamun began photographing the artist in 1978. At first, he was surprised to find him playing with a cobra. Mamun was frightened and could not take any photograph of that rare moment. He gradually got used to the environment, however, and started to make use of the circumstances in his own way. The intricate atmosphere did not at all create any disturbance for him. Mamun loved Sultan's mysterious and bohemian life which certainly helped him to build on the images.
Guru is a work in which one can easily recognise Sultan's diverse moments preserved for posterity in black and white images. Mamun has depicted the subject's personality in varying moods with dexterity. The innovations are highly thought-provoking and are projected by images that testify to his use of technique and skill. Black and white photography does more to evoke an emotion and freeze a moment in time than any other medium. The subtle tones of grey, the strong emphasis on the black and the softness of the white make one look much closer at the subject and composition. That would not be possible with natural colours around. Emotions, illusions and sensations are always much easier to portray in black and white because of the stark contrasts and the sharp focus placed on the subject. Black and white photography can also help portray a more personal point of view or add a dash of nostalgia to the story of one who was in love with stories all his life.
Takir Hossain is a journalist and reviewer.
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