Shawon Akand

Shawon Akand (born 15 October 1975) is a Bangladeshi painter, writer, researcher, and curator. He is known for his research on folk art and textile arts of Bangladesh. His research book on handloom crafts, Handloom Industry of Bangladesh, received the Prothom Alo Book of the Year Award 1424 in the non-fiction category. Since 2012, he has been contributing to the Art Asia Pacific Almanac. He is also known as a lyricist of several songs from the Atol Joler Gaan (2013) album by the band Joler Gaan. Currently, he is the director and co-founder of Jathashilpa, a center for traditional and contemporary arts.

In 2007, he co-founded the CRACK International Art Camp, an annual event inspired by Baul philosophy. In 2016, he established the non-profit research and resource center “Ashru Archive” in Kushtia. In the same year, he co-founded Jathashilpa, a center for traditional and contemporary arts.

He has also received research fellowships/grants from the Asia-Europe Foundation, the Bangladesh Film Archive, the Palli Karma-Sahayak Foundation, and Deshal.

Notable exhibitions Solo exhibitions Year Exhibition Venue Notes 2007 What is Reality Drik Gallery, Dhaka 2013 Paradox of the Partition NIV Art Centre, New Delhi 2016 To See or Not to See National Art Gallery, Dhaka

Publications Shawon's major publications include: An Outline of Bangladesh Folk Art Textile Traditions of Bangladesh Cinema Banner Painting in Bangladesh The Tendency of Modern Art in Bangladesh

Awards 2019 – Prothom Alo Book of the Year Award 1424