Eminent Bangladeshi sculptor and artist Hamiduzzaman Khan, a pioneer of modern sculpture in the country, passed away on Sunday morning at the age of 79.
Gallery Cosmos Artistic Director Sourav Chowdhury confirmed that Hamiduzzaman passed away around 10:30am at the United Hospital in Dhaka.
The sculptor had been undergoing treatment at United Hospital after being admitted last week with severe pneumonia and dengue. His condition deteriorated in recent days, and he was transferred to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) and later placed on life support.
On Sunday morning, doctors declared him dead after removing life support.
To pay final respects, his body will be brought to the Faculty of Fine Arts on Sunday at 2:30pm. After the tribute, his Namaz-e-Janaza will be held after Asr prayers at the Central Mosque of the university, Artcon Founder ARK Reepon confirmed.
Earlier, his wife Ivy Zaman informed the media that he had been in ICU care for three days. A medical board was monitoring his condition since Thursday.
Hamiduzzaman was born on March 16, 1946, in Sahasram village of Kishoreganj. He received his Bachelor of Fine Arts in 1967 from the then-East Pakistan College of Arts and Crafts (now the Faculty of Fine Arts, Dhaka University). He later earned his Master's degree from the MS University of Baroda, India, in 1976.
From 1970 to 2012, he served as a faculty member in the Sculpture Department at the Faculty of Fine Arts, Dhaka University.
After the pioneering works of Novera Ahmed in the 1950s that ushered in modern sculpture in Bangladesh, Hamiduzzaman Khan played a significant role in expanding the medium through his distinct expressionist and minimalist approaches.
His works spanned both semi-abstract and abstract styles, combining thematic depth with experimental forms.
Renowned for his form-driven and concept-based sculptural works, one of his earliest major sculptures was "Ekattorer Shmorone," created in 1976 in tribute to the Liberation War.
In 1988, he gained international recognition when his sculpture "Steps" was installed at the Olympic Sculpture Park in Seoul, South Korea.
His artworks-ranging from large-scale public sculptures to watercolour and acrylic paintings-reflect a deep engagement with nature and the human form.
Among his notable sculptures are "Songshoptok" at Jahangirnagar University, "Hamla" at Sylhet Cantonment, "Pakhi Poribar" at Bangabhaban, and "Shantir Payra" at Dhaka University's Teacher-Student Centre (TSC).
In 2017, the Bangladesh National Museum hosted a retrospective exhibition titled "Hamiduzzaman Khan 1964-2017," showcasing his lifetime achievements.
In 2023, he was awarded the Ekushey Padak in 2006 and received a fellowship from Bangla Academy for his contributions to sculpture. Besides these honours, he also received numerous awards from local and international institutions and organisations, including the Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy.
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