The Maharajah of Madrid

When 25-year-old Monir left his teaching job at the Dhaka Art College in his native Bangladesh in 1969, little did he know he was destined to become the art maharajah of Madrid. Opportunity presented itself in the form of a four-year art scholarship sponsored by the Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Monir got on the plane. His principal baggage he didn't even have to pack; it was his prodigious artistic talent.

Ten short years later this artist from the East finds himself installed in a sumptuous flat in the heart of Madrid, surrounded by banks, insurance companies and other potentates. The entire basement of his building is his etching studio. Here Monir practices his alchemy, starting with big black bags of paper scraps from etching workshops which he soaks and pulps and converts back into his own exclusive etching paper. The images are magical, meticulous, spiced with snippets of color and Sanscrit calligraphy. These images, which flow fresh from Monir's hand like water from a mountain spring, have taken him several times round the world and garnered him a rich harvest of international art prizes.

His next exhibit is in Cuenca, at the Galería de Pilares, el 29th of June, 2000. When Monir is not painting or etching he likes to fly kites, fish and cook for his friends.

He also likes to travel. But now when Monir returns to Dhaka, and he goes back frequently, it's as visiting royalty, the Maharahah of Madrid.

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