MD
TOKON
Artwork
info
Monotype
series 2 (Acrylic on canvas, 12x12 inches each)
Resume(Summarized)
New
York based artist (Born in Bangladesh)
<Education>
Art
Students League of New York
MFA
(Studio Art) Hunter College, The City University of New York
<Awards>
Red
Dot Award (Best work) from annual art show at the Art Students League of New
York, 2009
Best
Award from AfterSputnik Art Project, New York, 2009
<Art
Fairs>
2009:
The Affordable Art Fair New York
2009:
International Art Expo, Jacob K. Javits Convention Center, New York
<Solo
Exhibitions>
2009:
Tower 49 Sky Lobby Gallery, New York
2008:
Behr-Thyssen Gallery. SOHO TriBeca, New York
<Selected
Group Exhibition>
Silent
Auction Art Show, Chicago, Illinois
Group
Art Exhibition S. E Fein man Art Gallery, SOHO, New York
<Collection>
The
City University of New York
<Website>
http://www.mdtokon.com
Artwork
info
Md
Tokon is in love with color and in love with the cities he grew up in. His destination
is unknown.
But
he is ready to walk on his land as long as he is not tired. He believes and
abide by the famous quote
by
Bob Marley ¡°When one door closes another door opens¡±. Born in the infamous
neighborhood in Bangladesh,
he
grew up in a neighborhood not known for supporting artistic endeavors. But with
the support of his family,
he
soon realized his dream. As a teenager he was inspired to pursue a career as
an artist. When he was about 15
he
made his first real painting. City life, the surrounding atmosphere and social
structure have made a great
impact
on him. Through out the canvas he has been deeply influenced by nature. His
works are pure abstract
and
have a great touch of impressionism. His main focus is to bring to the canvas
the expressive colors.
His
paintings describe the story of nature, human emotions and it communicates in
a mysterious way.
In
the '90s, a number of Bangladeshi painters came overseas for higher education.
They wanted to explore
novel
themes and master new techniques. Most of them are abstract painters; colors
and forms are the primary
aspects
of their paintings. Md Tokon is one such promising painter from Bangladesh who
has been living in
New
York for over ten years, and has earned a significant reputation as a painter.
He obtained his BFA at The
University
of Dhaka, Bangladesh, B.A. in Art & Communication Design at The City University
of
New
York & doing M.F.A. at Hunter College at The City University of New York.
Also with the help of mentors, he is
practicing
painting at Art Student League of New York. Tokon's works plunge deep into nature,
human relationships,
personal
loss, social injustice, physiological journey and inner visions. His works are
closely connected to
dreams
and illusions. He naturally uses flat colors and creates many layers and forms
on the canvas. His works
are
mainly colour- based and varied pigments give a distinct language to his works.
His compositions are not
neatly
organised, sometimes revealing uneven texture and sensuous arrangement of space.
Space plays a significant
role
in his works. His works clearly articulate nature's unseen and unobserved beauty.
In his use of color, he has displayed
a
certain romantic concern for vivacious, lively hues and soulful texture. All
his paintings have a significant abstract
expression
focused on the depiction of emotions rather than objects.
His
most noted artistic influences are Monet, William Turner, Philip Guston, Mark
Rothko, Franz Kline, Anselm
Kiefer,
Joan Mitchell, and Cy Twombly. Most of these painters favored large canvasses,
dramatic colors, and loose
brushwork.
Their work inspired and inclined him towards his choice of style. He likes the
action, freedom, power,
strength,
excitement, and most of all the emotion that color can communicate.
Occasionally
unfamiliar forms & gesture are scattered in his paintings that create a
different look. His paintings stand out
for
their approach to figures and objects, which are not usually focused. His colours
occasionally look smooth
and
tranquil, which provide a water color effect in his works. Colors are the predominant
aspect in his
paintings
and the paintings are marked by a preoccupation with time, history and moment.
Tokon's works also
convey
an insight into life and a spiritual attachment.
His
paintings are in the collections of the The City University of New York; Tower
49 Sky Lobby,New York; Chung Design,
Memphis
Tennessee; Le
Pain Quotidien, Soho, New York; Clareo Partners, Chicago, IL & many more
private collection.
Click
here to request for more information about this artist