Sunil Das

1939

Is born on 4 August in Calcutta.

1959

Wins the national award from the Lalit Kala Akademi for his painting, Horses. Graduates from the Government College of Arts and Crafts scoring the highest marks in every subject.

1960

Is awarded gold medals by Calcutta University, Government College of Arts and Crafts, as well as Academy of Fine Arts, Calcutta. Is a founder member of the Society of Contemporary Artists, Calcutta.

1960-63

Goes to Paris to study at École des Beaux-Arts on a French government scholarship. Also studies graphic art at Atelier-17.

1961

Exhibits at Salon de la Jeune Peinture and Gallery Dean la Found, both in Paris.

1962

His works are exhibited at the Maison de Ministère des Affaires Étrangères, Paris. Has solo exhibitions also at Gallery Foyer des Artists, Paris, and Gallery Jean Lafond, France. Travels to Spain, studies original works by Picasso and Goya. His fascination for bullfights is reflected in his bull paintings hereafter.

1965-99

Joins Weavers’ Service Centre under the Ministry of Textiles’ Handloom Division, retiring from it in 1999 as director of the design department.

1963

Solo exhibition at Gallery Maison des Beaux-Arts, Paris. Becomes a member of la Sociète des musées Nationaux d’Art Moderne, Paris.

1964

Solo exhibition at All India Fine Arts and Crafts Society, New Delhi.

1965

Has several exhibitions in New Delhi, at All India Fine Arts and Crafts Society, Dhoomimal Art Gallery, and Kunika Chemould.

1967

Exhibits at the Progressive Painters’ Association, Madras. Begins work on his Tantra series, reflecting his interest in ritual art and materials.

1967-68

Solo exhibition at the Birla Academy of Art and Culture, Calcutta.

1971

Exhibits at Heidelberg, German Democratic Republic.

1972

Solo exhibition 'Musafir’ at Birla Academy of Art and Culture and U.S.I.S. Auditorium, Calcutta.

1974-75

Works on his Apple series on the subject of temptation.

1975

Exhibits at Polker Gallery, New York.

1976

Exhibition, ‘Sunil Das, ’56 to 1976’, is held at the Max Mueller Bhavan, Calcutta.

1976-78

Exhibitions in Basel, Zurich, Dusseldorf, Hamburg, New York, London, and New Delhi.

1978

Receives the national award from Lalit Kala Akademi for his painting, Rotation of Mankind.

1979

Retrospectives at Basel, Kuala Lumpur, and New York.

1980

Is appointed joint secretary of the Contemporary Artists, Calcutta.

1982

Becomes a committee member of the International Triennale India. He is also appointed to the general council of the Lalit Kala Akademi, New Delhi.

1983

Joins the jury at Prix de Étrangère, Paris.

1984

ITC sponsors ‘Confrontations’, a show of his drawings and paintings, at Jehangir Art Gallery, Bombay.

1988

Works exhibited at the International Triennale, New Delhi.

1989

Is appointed commissioner at the Sao Paulo Biennale, Brazil.

1990

Works exhibited at the Central Gallery of Fine Arts, New York.

1991

Receives Shiromani Puraskar from the West Bengal government.

1995-96

Exhibition, 'Paintings by Sunil Das’, at Gallery ABC, Banaras.

1996-2000

Paints the powerful Women and Prostitute series dwelling on the liminal life of sex workers in Calcutta’s red light district.

1997

Exhibits at Art Today as well as Village Gallery, both in New Delhi.

1999

Exhibits at Gajah Gallery, Singapore, and in San Francisco, U.S.A. Is honoured as the Master of Visual Arts by the Government College of Arts and Crafts, Calcutta.

2001-05

Exhibitions in New Delhi, Bangalore, Kolkata, and Mumbai in India; in Dusseldorf, New York, and Dubai, internationally.

2005

His major retrospective, 'Art Moves' opens at DAG, New Delhi. It travels to Kolkata and Mumbai and is accompanied by a book authored by Manasij Majumder.

2008

Solo show at Ganges Art Gallery, Kolkata.

2014

Is conferred with the Padma Shri by the Government of India.

2015

Passes away on 10 August, in Kolkata.