I first met Chitro, and her sister Charza, when I interviewed acclaimed Bangladeshi painter Shahabuddin Ahmed 30 years ago in Kolkata. Later, in Paris, we stayed with them on Plus d’ Italie, where their dad painted while they played games speaking in French and Bengali. Their names reflect their mother Ana’s influence — a journalist from Bangladesh — and the deep-rooted Bangla culture which has remained part of their upbringing in Paris. I have watched them grow into responsible young ladies and discovered Chitro’s art on Facebook. I noticed she had developed her own distinct style, which told layered tales intricately interwoven with confident strokes and vibrant colours. Following is an edited conversation with Chitro Shahabuddin...
When did you know you wanted to be a painter?
I was born into a family of artists and art has always been a part of my life. After completing my high-school diploma (Baccalauréat), when it came time to choose my path for higher education, I focussed on studying law rather than fine arts. I reasoned that I could continue to pursue painting as a parallel endeavour alongside a career dedicated to advocating for rights.
‘I was born into a family of artists and art has always been a part of my life’
Do you have formal training in art?
I don’t have any formal academic training in painting... My younger sister and I have always painted in our father’s studio; we were influenced by him.
Is there a preferred format? Canvas? Paper? Oil and acrylic?
Yes, I draw and paint on rigid paper specifically designed for acrylics.
The common size of your works?
My paintings generally measure 50 x 60cm without the frame.
How do you select your subjects?
It depends on my mood, my current inspiration. Generally, I draw a lot of inspiration from historical facts, myths, tales, and poems from around the world.
‘I draw inspiration from historical facts, myths, tales, and poems from around the world’
How has this particular style evolved?
My painting and drawing style underwent significant transformation since the COVID-19 lockdown. Prior to this period, I predominantly depicted arabesques, mandalas, and a plethora of alpanas, often intertwining them with elements of the dream world.
Since then, I have drastically altered my style as I felt compelled to paint figures, archetypes, and more concrete subjects.
How long does it take you to complete a work usually?
As a full-time lawyer, I only paint on weekends and during holidays. On average, it takes me about a month to complete a large-scale painting. Since giving birth three months ago, I have been able to complete one painting over the course of two months, primarily when my husband or parents were caring for the baby, or during her nap times. I hope to pick up the pace during the coming months!
I see a lot of colours on the canvasses, do the colours denote anything?
Yes, I am very fond of vibrant colours, the colours of life. They carry rather classical meanings: red for dynamism or passion, orange for earthiness or asceticism, blue in reference to the sea and depth, etc.
‘Each painting holds significant meaning. Sometimes, they revolve around a singular theme’
Your canvasses are multilayered with several stories, is their one particular story the each painting is telling?
Certainly, each painting holds significant meaning. Sometimes, they revolve around a singular theme, such as my recent artwork exploring maternity, femininity, and the role of women according to me. Alternatively, I enjoy intertwining mythologies and depicting Hindu deities alongside those from the Greco-Roman pantheon. I find pleasure in juxtaposing the queens and kings of France with figures from Indian and Bengali history. I try to harmoniously blend my Franco-Bengali heritage in a modest attempt to forge a bridge between the East and the West.
Has always living in Paris contributed to your art?
Certainly, I hold a deep affection for France, my birthplace and the land of my heart, just as I cherish my Bengali roots from Bangladesh. Paris occupies a special place in my life; it is my home, where art thrives everywhere and culture permeates every corner.
‘Paris occupies a special place in my life; it is my home, where art thrives everywhere and culture permeates every corner’ Shutterstock
Has the fact that you father is a painter, painting in the premises, helped you or inspired you?
Certainly, I deeply admire my father and his work. Out of respect for privacy and to preserve creative freedom, my sister and I have never sought painting advice from our father. However, as soon as I begin or complete a painting, I eagerly show the creation to my parents, especially my father. I value his feedback on colour tones, the placement of my strokes, and other aspects. Eventually, I often inform my father at the last minute when I am fortunate enough to exhibit my work in France! Haha!
But overall, we have significantly different backgrounds and dedication to art (to say the least!) for any comparison to be really adequate or pertinent.
Chitro Shahabuddin and Shahabuddin Ahmed with President Pranab Mukherjee at Rashtrapati Bhavan, on February 20, 2017 Rashtrapati Bhavan
Which European Masters inspire you?
I admire many painters from the old continent; it's challenging to narrow it down...
I appreciate the works of Picasso, Francis Bacon, Matisse, Soutine, Turner, Gustave Doré's engravings, Giacometti for his incredible sculptures. Among the masters of the Renaissance, I love Leonardo da Vinci, Raphael, Michelangelo Poussin and Rembrandt among many others!
Any other artists from across the world who you like?
My father, but for me, he’s European and an Indian/Bangladeshi Master! Zainul Abedin, Tagore, Jamini Roy, Novera Ahmed (she's also half-Bengali and half-French artist for me) Frida Kahlo...
Amongst contemporary painters – who are your favourites ?
My father Shahabuddin, Olivier Debré, Pierre Soulages, Vladimir Veličković, Fabienne Verdier, Jean-Marie Fondacaro...
Another of her works
Does your personal life and experiences become a part of the paintings?
Certainly, I primarily paint my imaginative world or my relationship with the world, incorporating cultural codes or symbols such as astrology, the Marseille Tarot, the Mahabharata, or even reinterpretations of famous paintings by Manet or Klimt. When I paint something personal like motherhood, it somewhat resonates with the maternity of all women, always with nods to artists or historical periods. The painting on motherhood also addresses the role of women in the world and highlights the patriarchy in our societies.
‘I primarily paint my imaginative world or my relationship with the world, incorporating cultural codes or symbols, or even reinterpretations of famous paintings’
Anything else you want to tell me about yourself as an artist and as a person?
I’m a human rights lawyer in France, in 2010, I have joined the association Droit Solidarité, the French branch of the International Association of Democratic Lawyers. In 2011, I co-founded the Terra Solidari association to harness art for humanitarian purposes between Bangladesh and France.
I work with numerous women’s rights organisations, migrant defence groups, anti-human trafficking initiatives, and housing access for homeless people. I always cherished the idea that art can heal the world with its beauty and poetry. Parallelly, we need the fight for justice on the ground, that's why I’m working on two levels: as attorney and as an artist, I’m trying to manage a balance for a better world.
I'm extremely lucky to exhibit my paintings regularly in France since 2013, I try to exhibit every two years on galleries or to contribute to caritative events.
What time of the day do you work?
As I mentioned earlier, I work as a lawyer the whole week, so I only have weekends and holidays to paint... To give you an example, during my last exhibition in Paris last October, I presented around 40 paintings (small and large formats) based on my recent work from the past two years. Since it takes me about a month on average to complete a large format, I manage to paint 20 a year at most!
