Anwar Chitrakar

We, men, are children of the same mother

Some become Hindus

Some Muslims

Children of One Mother.

(Excerpts from a local Patua folk song)

Born in 1980, Anwar Chitrakar is a Patua artist with an artistic lineage that stretches back to his father, Amar Chitrakar, who instilled in him the time-honored techniques of the Kalighat art. Bengali Pat paintings come from a unique religious blend where both, Muslim and Hindu artists would paint the image of Hindu Gods and Goddesses. Hailing from West Bengal, Anwar is part of a small community of Patuas, village artists who craft vertical scroll paintings. These scrolls depict tales of Indian gods and goddesses, mythological figures, and narratives like those of Krishna and Rama 

Unlike his fellow Patua artists, he embraced painting professionally at the age of twenty, having previously worked as a tailor due to the limited commercial prospects for folk painters. His late start prompted a desire for innovation, leading him to infuse tradition with his sartorial touch He melds natural pigments, such as turmeric and marigold, with modern elements, even signing his artworks—a rarity among Patua artists. Apart from the classic cloth-paper scroll, he has also ventured into contemporary mediums like canvas, British paper, and Italian paper.

He has participated in several exhibitions both in India and abroad, such as the Berlin Festival 2012, Namaste India Festival Japan 2012, Vernacular, In the Contemporary Part One: Working, curated by Jackfruit Research and Design led by Annapurna Garimella, Devi Arts Foundation, Bangalore (2011), and others. His paintings are part of the collection at the prestigious Victoria and Albert Museum, London, the Mumbai International Airport, and many important private collections. Anwar Chitrakar won the West Bengal State Award in 2002, the National Award in 2006, and the President’s Award amongst others. The artist resides and works in his village in West Bengal.