Collection: PROKASH KARMAKAR

Born into an artistic family, Prokash Karmarkar's early life was marked by tragedy. His father, a renowned artist, lost all his paintings in the Hindu-Muslim riots of the 1940s, which also devastated their family. Orphaned by 1949, Karmarkar abandoned his studies at the Government College of Arts and Crafts, Kolkata, and joined the army. After a two-year stint, he worked as a graphic design manager for a medical firm in Kolkata. Penniless and desperate for a break, Karmarkar held a street exhibition in 1956, a first in the city. This bold move catapulted him into the limelight. Karmarkar's big break came in 1957 when he participated in the national art exhibition in New Delhi, winning an award for his watercolor. He continued to hold street exhibitions, often in collaboration with poet friends like Shakti Chattopadhyay. Together, they would create and sell their works on street corners.