Well-known painter and freedom fighter Shahabuddin Ahmed of Bangladesh will be the first foreign artist to live in Rashtrapati Bhavan as a guest of President Pranab Mukherjee. According to a press release issued by the Rashtrapati Bhavan today, the renowned painter will stay as an Artist In-Residence from February 18 to 22.
The ‘In-Residence’ programme was launched by President Mukherjee on December 11, 2013 with the aim of providing Writers and artists an opportunity to stay at the Rashtrapati Bhavan. Shahabuddin is a celebrated international artist whose Works are exhibited around the world and include recurring portraits of Gandhiji and Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.
Shahabuddin considers Rabindranath Tagore and Mother Teresa as sources of inspiration. He was a platoon commander who fought in the Liberation War of Bangladesh when he was 21 years old. The release said that a solo exhibition of his works titled ‘Shanti’ will be held at the Rashtrapati Bhavan Museum Art Gallery in collaboration with Kolkata-based Ganges Art Gallery during the period of his stay. All visitors to the museum can see the exhibition.