Recently an art exhibition ‘Harlow Open 2024’ which featured the works of many British painters as well as the paintings of Bangladeshi painter Ashis Mitra has been held in Gibberd Gallery, Civic Centre, Harlow from 2nd February to 16th March, 2024. There was a brief interview with Mr Ashis Mitra taken by Professor Dr Gokul Chandra Biswas, Ex – Principal, Govt. Fazlul Haque College, Chakhar, Barishal, Bangladesh. Dr Biswas is also a writer, composer and singer at Barishal Betar (radio), Bangladesh. Q: Hello, Mr Ashis Mitra! Good afternoon. Nice to meet you today. How are you? Could you, please, introduce yourself? Ans: Good afternoon and nice to meet you too. Well, thank you for asking me the questions. I am a self-motivated and passionate artist. I was born in the village named Madra, Swarupkathi in the district of Pirojpur, southern part of Bangladesh. I studied there till higher secondary. I obtained my Bachelor (Honours) and Master Degree in Accounting from the renowned B M College, Barisal, Bangladesh. Though could not complete but I was admitted in to ICAB (CA Foundation Course). I love to introduce myself as natural artist. Q: What did actually motivate you to be natural artist? Ans: Basically, I grew up in the midst of vast nature. So, I was introduced to lives, to the colours of lives intimately and I possessed great passion for art from very early stage of my life. The scenic beauty of my surroundings helped to create different stories within me and I used to feel urge to portray those on canvas. So, nature, I believe, was my first inspiration to be a natural artist. Q: What else did help you to continue it and what are the specialities in your works? Ans: Along with academic studies I always enjoyed co-curricular activities much and those interests helped me to know about cultures as well. Gradually my creativity and artistic skills have been developed participating at varied range of art related works, workshops and competitions. Since 2006 I have sincerely been engaged myself to art work in Bangladesh. As a genuine lover of nature, I can depict the beauty and truth in my art work vividly through my ideas, imagination and experiences. To do so I love to experiment different mediums, such as oil, acrylic, watercolour, pencil sketch etcetera. Q: Did you take art as your profession from the beginning? Ans: Not really. After completion of my academic carrier, I worked as an Accountant and as an Assistant Accounts Officer in two well-known organisations in Bangladesh from 2001 till 2009 but couldn’t continue. Q: If you don’t mind, is it your passion for art that made you discontinue those jobs and come in the UK? Ans: Unfortunately, there are other reasons behind it. I became a victim of racism in our capital city Dhaka, Bangladesh in 2007 and it compelled me to leave jobs. Not only that, I had been attacked also by the group of people more than once there. To save my life there was no other choice except escaping from my own country Bangladesh to United Kingdom in 2009. Q: Mr Ashis, tell me about your life in the UK, please. Ans: Well, coming to the UK, I have to struggle a lot to survive but I did not stop my art work. Rather since 2013 I have regularly been participating in art related course and exhibitions. I achieved an award in Creative Techniques following two modules (Drawing and Painting - Still Life and Certification Module Level -2) from Rosetta Art Centre, London by the awarding body "City & Guilds" in 2013. Some of my notable exhibitions I participated in are Harlow Open 2024; Exhibition in Gibberd Gallary, Harlow in 2023; Summer Art Exhibition 2023 Bishop's Stortford, UK; Spring Art Exhibition 2023 Bishop's Stortford, UK; A Group Art Exhibition, 2021 Bishop's Stortford, UK, Summer Art Exhibition, 2020 Bishop's Stortford, UK; Harlow Open 2020; Hertfordshire Exhibition in 2018; ECCO Art Exhibition; A Sacred Autumn - A Solo Art Exhibition, 2018; A Divine Sketch and Colours - A Solo Art Exhibition 2015 Chichester, UK; Bayswater Road Sunday Art Exhibition, 2015; Art and Worship, 2013 and Art, Spirit and Devotion, 2013. Montefiore Art Centre London Q: Good to know about all these Mr Mitra. Is there any other work you did or still doing except art in this country? Ans: Thanks for asking. Yes, I worked as volunteers in several organisations here named Betar Bangla 1503AM (Community Radio Station), SBLA (Sarbojanin Baba Lokenath Association) UK, Age Sentinel Trust, UK. I became a member of Bayswater Road Art Society in 2014 - 2015. Presently I am one of the members of Bishop's Stortford Art Society, Bishop's Stortford, Hertfordshire, UK. Q: Thank you so much for sharing the information about you and your art works. I wish success in your life. Best of luck Mr Ashis Mitra. Ans: Thank you very much for your generous questions. It’s really a nice experience for me. You take care.