Mubinul Azim is often renowned as one of Bangladesh’s foremost and prolific painters in the scene of fine arts. Born in November 24, 1934, he graduated from the College of Arts and Crafts, Dhaka in 1955. Late Mr. Azim had hosted various solo exhibitions in Bangladesh along with group exhibitions around the world in places like Nepal, India, Pakistan and USA.
Although Mr. Azim lived till the age of 41, he left behind an impressive collection of diverse works including sketches, watercolors and oil paintings across various mediums like cement, jute and sand. Mr. Azim was a direct disciple of Shilpacharya Zainul Abedin and under his guidance, was able to receive significant recognition for his abilities. Outside of art, Mr. Azim was also an active contributor in the Language Movement during the late 60’s, where he would produce various paintings and posters while also helping to organize protests.
Mr. Azim spent a number of years in Pakistan where his career as a painter had started along with his teaching on the side. His style of painting helped set himself apart from the crowd. Drawing inspiration from his surroundings, Mr. Azim was able to capture the raw essence of his perceptions and reproduce those using vivid colors and patterns while incorporating elements of texture and purpose. His portrayal of intangible energies like joy, angst and craving were especially appreciated on the canvas. The areas of abstract impressionism and expressionism began to gain popularity in Bangladesh between the 1950’s and 1960’s and this was around the time that Mr. Azim was able to translate his unique observations into abstract excellence. Some other features that made Mr. Azim’s paintings particularly unique were his balances between form and color mixed with the chemistry of light, dark and negatives.
Mubinul Azim passed away on the 1st of November, 1975 in Bangladesh. His book “Mubinul Azim: Colours and Dreams,” published by Bengal Publications has preserved and documented his works including articles, discussions and articles with the help of his wife, Momtaz Azim. Mr. Azim was recognized for his talent and was posthumously awarded the Ekushey Padak in 2012 for his exceptional contributions to the art culture of Bangladesh. Artwork of this prestigious painter can found among Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s personal collection, Bangladesh National Museum, Bangladesh Biman and Dhaka Club to name a few.
