Sunara Begum (; born 22 September 1984) is an English visual and performance artist, filmmaker, photographer and writer of Bangladeshi descent.
Early life Begum was born in London, England, and is of Bangladeshi descent. She grew up in a Sufi Muslim household.
She studied at Camberwell College of Arts. In 2008, she graduated from Central Saint Martins College of Art and Design with a Bachelor of Fine Arts and a Master of Fine Arts. During her studies, she worked as an archivist for the Henry Moore Foundation and as a research assistant, camera operator, and line producer for Halaqah Media.
Career Art Begum held her first exhibition in 2004 at the National Annexe Gallery in Cape Town, South Africa, while still a student at Central Saint Martins. She has since presented solo exhibitions at Whitespace Gallery (2016, Nigeria), Dimbola Museum & Gallery (2016, UK), Lionel Wendt Gallery (2015, Sri Lanka), Centre for Contemporary Art (2015, Nigeria), St Martin-in-the-Fields (2012, 2014, UK), Drik Gallery (2011, Bangladesh), and 198 Gallery (2010, UK).
She has collaborated with multimedia artist Trevor Mathison, spoken word artist HKB FiNN, composer Tunde Jegede, and choreographer Bode Lawal.
In 2010 she exhibited Ara: A New Face of the Old World at the 198 Gallery in London.
As a photographer, her work has appeared in publications in France, the UK, China, India, and Bangladesh, including Songlines and Le Monde. In September 2010 she published her first book, The Legend of Ara, a photographic narrative of a mythical character.
Film Begum has also been involved in theatre productions, film and television. She has worked as a producer and cinematographer on several films, including The Idea and the award-winning feature film 500 Years Later. She directed her own debut short film, Ara's Sojourn, to critical acclaim. This featured her sister, Shahanara Begum.
Filmography Film Year Title Credit 2002 Justice for the Youth Research, camera operator 2005 500 Years Later Research, administration 2006 The Idea Producer, production manager 2007 Our Story Our Voice Presenter, camera operator Ara's Sojourn Director, producer, editor 2008 Ara's World Director, writer 2009 Menantol Editor 2010 Ara Trilogy Director The World of Tunde Jegede 2011 The Water's Will 2012 Visions of a Traveler 2013 Truth & Art Director, producer The Pilgrim Within Director2014Night PaintingsDirector, editor2015New Horizons AfricaProducer2016New Horizons AfricaProducer2017Memories of My MentorDirector, producer, writer, editor2019WaterDirector, producer, writer, editor
Novels, CD & DVD Year TitlePublisher / Production ISBN / Catalogue No. 2010 The Legend of Ara Chand Aftara Publishing 2013Truth & ArtChand Aftara ProductionCA0012015New Horizons Africa: New HorizonsChand Aftara ProductionCA0022015New Horizons Africa: African MessiahChand Aftara ProductionCA0032015New Horizons Africa: TestimonyChand Aftara ProductionCA0042016New Horizons Africa: Resistance & RevelationChand Aftara ProductionCA0052016New Horizons Africa: New WorldsChand Aftara ProductionCA0062016New Horizons Africa: African BalletChand Aftara ProductionCA0072017Who Am IChand Aftara ProductionCA008
See also British Bangladeshi List of British Bangladeshis
References
External links
Sunara Begum on Songkick