Renowned Bangladeshi sculptor cum painter Syed Abdullah Khalid turned 71 on April 10. On the occasion of his birthday, Architects Ltd organised a birthday celebration programme at the premises of the office.
Eminent architect and art critic Professor Shamsul Wares, noted poet Rabiul Husain, architects Badrul Haider, Mahbubul Huq; architect Ziaul Huq Chowdhury, who is also managing director of Architects Ltd; noted sculptor Mojibor Rahman Mojib and friends, admirers and well-wishers greeted the painter (Syed Abdullah Khalid) with flowers, gifts, sweets and placards.
Syed Abdullah Khalid is regarded as one of the most brilliant sculptors of our country. He is mainly recognised for his "Aparajeyo Bangla", one of the most familiar sculptures, and considered a landmark, in Dhaka. A multi-talented artist, Khalid has not only excelled in sculpture but also made an impression with his paintings.
Throughout the '80s and '90s and first decade of 21st century the artist had been active. Khalid is inclined to use a large canvas for depicting untamed nature, landscapes and still life (flower based). Losing himself in the natural world, the artist frequently takes themes from this affluent source and plays with shades and textures on canvas. He occasionally likes to experiment with diverse vague and plain forms, and enjoys breaking and constructing them in many ways. Blossoming and budding flowers as well as dense forests are recurring features in his paintings. In many of Khalid's works, one finds a great interchange between abstract and realistic forms.
Khalid's amicability earned him friendships with several legendary personalities of the country. He has done busts of Dr. Motahar Hossain Chowdhury, Professor Abdur Razzaque, folklorist Monsur Uddin Ahmed and poet Jasimuddin, among others.
Khalid completed his BFA in painting in 1969 from East Pakistan College of Arts and Crafts (presently Faculty of Fine Arts, University of Dhaka) and did his MFA in painting and sculpture in 1974. When he was a student of Dhaka University, Mir Mustafa Ali, head of Department of Ceramics, and Abdur Razzaque, head of Department of Sculpture, encouraged him to work on sculptures.
Some of his notable works include "Ankur" at the factory premise of Squibb Pharmaceuticals, a mural called "Abahaman Bangla" inside the premises of the Bangladesh Television Center in Rampura, a monument for martyrs called "Angikar" in Chandpur, the Shahid Minar of Chittagong University and a terracotta relief mural called "Toiling Masses" in the conference room of the Daily Ittefaq. His other noteworthy sculptures are "Abahoman Bangla", "Eternal Bengal", "Dolphin" and "Mother and Child".
The artist has received many prestigious awards in his long chequered life. He has received 'Shilpakala Award 2014' for his outstanding contributions to Bangladeshi art.