Transformation (on going performance since 2004) Rope & buffalo horn
The enormously incredible play written by the eminent writer Syed Shamsul Haque titled ‘Nuruldiner Sarajiban’ -the entire life span of Nuruldin in what Nuruldin- a son of a poor farmer from the north, was portrayed as a great rebellion who fought against the British Régime in the sub-continent. Nuruldin played a vital role in the revolution against Indigo farming in northern part of Bangladesh. At time, when Nuruldin was a young boy, everything was taken away from his family, even the only bull that helped his father to farming. The writer depicted the struggle and pain of the animal-like human being the father of Nuruldin through his very powerful poetic text that moved me to start this performance more than a decade ago.
I started this performance in 2004 and in later days time to time I did it in di erent locations including Bangladesh, France, Nepal and UK. The last 'Transformation' was done in March 2014 in front of the famous architect Louise I Kahn's Parliament House of Bangladesh. As the writer believed, I also metaphorically trust that Nuruldin the great rebel will be back again and again, whenever there is any crisis occurs in our beloved motherland.
Biography
Mahbubur Rahman was born in 1969 in Dhaka. He completed his M.F.A in Drawing & Painting at the Institute of Fine Art, University of Dhaka in 1993. In his career, spanning more than two decades, Mahbub has held a number of solo and group shows at home and abroad. His major exhibitions over the last few years include ‘Dust to Dust’ a solo show at the Bengal Art Lounge, Dhaka in 2015 and solo show at Devi Art Foundation, India in 2009, Bangladesh Pavilion in Venice Biennale 2011, Kathmandu International Art Festival 2011 and 2013, Solo project in India Art Fair 2013, Solo Project in Dhaka Art Summit 2012 & 2014, Colombo Biennale 2014, Asian Art Biennale Bangladesh (5th-16th editions). Mahbub’s significant upcoming duo with Tayeba Begum Lipi will be held at the Eli and Edithe Broad Museum at the Michigan State University in USA from March-August 2016. Mahbub participated in several workshops and international residency programs in several countries in Asia and Europe. He achieved numerous Awards and Grants. His significant ones include ‘Grand Prize’ in National Art Exhibition in 1998, ‘Grand Award’ in Asian Art Biennale Bangladesh 1999, Unesco-Aschberg Bursaries for Artists’ 2001 and Sera Bangali (the Best Bengali) from Ananda Bazaar Potrika & Star News, India 2010. One of the founder-trustees of Britto Arts Trust, the first ever non-profit artists’ run platform, Mahbub went through his curatorial practice for several large-scale projects and exhibitions including ‘New Media Festival’ by Britto Arts Trust in 2009, ‘SPACE’ at BRITTO SPACE a Contemporary Art Hub in 2012, Dhaka Art Summit 2014, ‘Cross Casting’ at BRITTO SPACE in 2014 and ‘Chobi Mela’ the international Photography Festival in 2015.