Shambhu Acharya, the pioneer of 500 years old family tradition of scroll painting, painted “Gazir Pat” narrating the bravery and conquests of Shah Ismail Ghazi. Serving as a Muslim general to Sultan Rukunuddin Barbak Shah in the 15th century, he became popular among Muslims and Bedey community for his achievements. Sambhu Acharya portrayed the life of a legend and gave his work a tribute through this. Using handmade Pata and natural elements as color he painted Pir Ghazi sitting on a tiger, smoking from a hookah, defeating the opposition, and celebrating life.
This scroll painting or Potochitro is his tribute to a man behind the myth and his attempt to capture a time lost in history.
Artist Profile
Shambhu Acharya
Shambhu Acharya was born in 1954. His father was patua Shudir Chandra Acharya and mother was Kalpana Bala Acharya who herself was an Alpona painter. His family has been practicing ‘patachitra or scroll painting’, for more then 450 years or nine generation. The themes of their paintings include of Gazir pata, Sree Krisna, Muharram, Ramayan,Mahabharata,Manusha Mangal, Rass leela and also various other themes from the local folk culture. Shambhu has the responsibility of carrying forward the family tradition of ‘patachitra’, His works have been exhibited at the Spitz Gallery London and are being collected by art lovers both overseas and in Bangladesh. Shambhu Acharya lives in kalindipara, Ritabi Bazer, Mirkadim, pouroshova Munshigang, Bangladesh with his wife , three daughters and a son.
Gazir Pat
Kesh Binnash - 2
“Kesh Binnash-2” is an everyday style Potochitro(scroll painting) by Shambhu Acharya. He painted the handmade scroll in natural orange and used it as a backdrop to portray the eternal imagery of rural Bangla. Coming out of the comfort zone of history, myths, and religion, he painted something mundane. In this Potochitro he painted two women sitting in a courtyard and braiding their hair. Through this, he captured the bond and relationship of a lifetime. Being true to his craft, he used colors made of natural elements.
Being born into a family of Potuyas, he devoted his life to make a space of Potochitro, to give it a new direction, and to keep it alive even after 800 years.
Artist Art Style
Shambhu Acharya was born in 1954, the son of patua Shudir Chandra Acharya and mother Kalpana Bala Acharya, who herself was an Alpona painter. He is the ninth generation of the family of practitioners of this art form, the first being Ramlochon Acharya. The themes of his paintings include of Ramayan, Sree Krisna, Gazir Pat, Mahabharata, Manusha Mangal, Muharram, Rass leela and also various other themes from the local folk culture
