?Rhythmic Wing Beats?

?Pakhai Pakhai Chondo?

Dr. Niaz Rahman?s

Solo Photography Exhibition on BIRDS
PRESS RELEASE from Drik Gallery

Dr. Niaz Rahman an eye specialist, a photographer and nature lover with a passion for bird photography, presents a colourful selection of his photographs taken over the last two decades from different corners of Bangladesh and from different countries during his travels. The exhibition will run from June 25 to July 2, 2010 & will be held at Drik Gallery, House 58, Road 15/A, (new), Dhanmondi, Dhaka.

In this exhibition the photographer will showcase a potpourri of birds that will include a few critically endangered species, notably the Bali Myna, of which there are only less than 12 living birds in the wild. A large selection of migratory waterfowl, ducks & geese, found in the rivers, swamps and coastal areas of Bangladesh form the heart of the exhibition, which also showcases a colourful display of birds from Africa & South America, which can never be seen in Bangladesh. The exhibition aims to enchant viewers with the beauty of God?s creation and enthuse them to take an active part in the conservation of wild life.
At Drik Gallery, on June 25 Friday, 4:30 pm, the exhibition will be inaugurated by eminent cultural personality Mr Aly Zaker. Illustrious linguist and educationist Mr Mostafa Nurul Islam and distinguished nature photographer Mr Sadat Hossain Salim will be present as Special Guests. The inaugural ceremony will be presided by literary personality and educationist Professor Roushanara Rahman.
The exhibition will remain open from 25 June to 02 July, 2010, daily from 3 ? 8 pm.
Drik Gallery House 58, Road 15/A (new), Dhanmondi R/A, Dhaka 1209

8th Annual Photography Exhibition

BUET Photographic Society

The exhibition will stay open till 24th June, 2010 from 3:00 to 8:00 p.m. daily.

Do You See My World?

A photographic journey into the lives of adolescents in Bangladesh at Drik Gallery.
The exhibition is an outcome of a photographic training programme provided to three groups of adolescents from Jamalpur, Chapainawabganj and Barguna.
The accompanying book ?Do You See My World?? will be available at the gallery.
The launching ceremony will be held on 22 November, 2009 Winter Garden, Dhaka Sheraton Hotel.
Dr. Kamal Abdul Naser Chowdhury Secretary Ministry of Information Government of Bangladesh will inaugurate the event as the Chief Guest.
H.E. Dr. Stefan Frowein, Ambassador and Head of Delegation Delegation of the European Commission to Bangladesh
Mr. Carel de Rooy United Nations Children?s Fund, Bangladesh and
Dr. Shahidul Alam, Principal Pathshala ? South Asian Institute of Photography, Bangladesh will be present at the occasion as the Special Guests.
A photo book titled ?Do You See My World?? will also be launched at this event. The exhibition will continue at Drik Gallery, Dhaka from 23-27 November, 2009 and later tour the three districts where the exhibition originated from.

EXHIBITION, JAMALPUR

Public Library, Bakultola

6-11 December 2009, 10 am – 4 pm

EXHIBITION, CHAPAINAWABGANJ

Nawabganj Town Club

17-22 December 2009, 10 am – 4 pm

EXHIBITION, BARGUNA

TNO Office complex, Amtoli

17-22 December 2009, 10 am – 4 pm

The exhibition will also have

mobile versions on rickshaw van

and bullock cart.

Invitation card
Watch the launching ceremony live at www.drik.tv/doyouseemyworld
4.30pm Sunday, 22 November 2009
Standard time zone:UTC/GMT +6 hours.?Daylight saving time:+1 hour.?Current time zone offset:UTC/GMT +7 hours
LAUNCHING CEREMONY AT
The Winter Garden
Dhaka Sheraton Hotel
Bangladesh


Live web-streaming will begin at 4.15pm.

Lokkhi Terra Performs at Drik

Bhromor Koio Gia, rendered by Lokkhi Terra

Story and Photos By:?Sabhanaz Rashid Diya
Ansel Adams once sipped a cup of steaming coffee, cleared his throat and told the world, ?You don?t take a photograph, you make it.? Indeed, when one walks through the photographic projects of the 8th batch of graduating students from South Asian Media Academy and Institute of Photography, Bangladesh ? otherwise known asPathshala ? one can truly contemplate what Adams meant.??Perspectives? ? the event that has roused much curiosity and accolade is in quintessence a showcase of the making of a photographer and a breathing proof to Pathshala?s unique array of successes.

Photo by Tanvir Murad Topu

The photography exhibition and book, both titled??Perspectives? is a product ofPathshala?s year long documentary photography course project done by 16 graduating students in their third year. Held at Drik Gallery between August 7 and 12, it presented the works of Chandan Robert Rebeiro, Debasish Shom, K M Asad, Khaled Hasan, M. Mazhar Hussain, Nurun Nahar Nargish, Prito Reza, Qamruzzaman, Saikat Mojumder, Saikat Bhadra, Shah Sazzad, Shehab Uddin, Shumon Ahmed, Tanvir Murad Topu, Tanvir-ul-Hossain and Tanzim Ibne Wahab. The images were edited by the course teacher, Abir Abdullah. The exhibition intended to portray life on a bigger canvas with interpretations of faith, dreams, stigma, class diversity, social injustice and cultural changes from diverse points of views.

Photo by D M Shibly

Nobel Laureate Professor Mohammad Yunus inaugurated the show by taking a picture with a camera, and marked the Graduation Day 2009 of?Pathshala. As chief guest, Professor Yunus with guest-of-honour, photographer Bijon Sarkar and principal of Pathshala, Dr. Shahidul Alam also unveiled the photography book,??Perspectives?. The publication is a compilation of compassionate and compelling imageries pulsating with the masteries of Sabyasachi Hazra?s unblemished illustrations. Both the exhibition and book stand tall as brilliant successes that have veritably given photography a new perspective.

Now, taking a closer look at the exhibition itself and answering the doubt of what is it about framed photographs that makes this particular exposition so unique;??Perspecitves? ? on a personal note ? is an unparalleled blend of imagination and realism. It brings forth the stories of people and places beyond the limitations of wooden frames, and gives the viewer a more three-dimensional outlook into their lives. To illustrate a few, Tanvir Murad Topu?s project, titled??City Wheeler? tells the story of rickshaw pullers from across Bangladesh who have each come to Dhaka to earn their families money to survive. Taking a closer look at the pullers? diverse backgrounds, the project intends to present the important moments of their lives. However, what makes Topu?s work such a galvanizer is the presentation of the photographs. Bring placed on a brand new rickshaw that has been built and painted from scratch, the photographs received a more real, tactile essence; and thus giving the rickshaw puller?s story a more careful insight. Similarly, Saikat Majumder?s??Life: Born in a Slum? is a startling collage of imageries taken during birth at a slum under harsh conditions of poverty, destitution and poor medical conditions. On the contrary, Shah Sazzad?s project??Emon Jodi Hoto? puts together art and photography to create the recreate the fantasies of children. In Sazzad?s words, he was inspired by the Khude Shilpi?r Khoje Art Competition where he saw children drawing their imaginations in the form of fairies, flying unicorns and other fictitious elements. He decided to put real characters in the backdrop of these paintings to give photography a refreshing new perspective. Sazzad?s work was presented in a bioscope that brought forth the elements of illusion, entertainment and tradition and gives his project a feeling like no other.

But moving back, and coming to the making of these presentations, one cannot help but wonder what stirred photographers to be this creative and break away from the traditional modes of showcasing their work.
?Pathshala has always provided us a platform for free spirited thinking. Where most institutions follow a very stringent curriculum,?Pathshala allows its students to design their own courses, and often these are implemented in accordance to feasibility. I think that?s what makes this place so special and different from the rest,? explained the proud graduate Tanvir Murad Topu. ?At the end of our third year, each student is supposed to submit a final project, and in our batch, we decided to do something different. We submitted our project proposals and a willing committee discussed its prospects and feasibility with us. We each had ingenious ideas to showcase our work, and finally, the best and most feasible projects reached the gallery. It must be mentioned here that each final presentation depended largely on the student?s will and whether he or she was ready to undertake the time and dedication required to see his or her work to the final day.?
?We felt our photographs needed to break out of the frames, and should provide a more three-dimensional, real insight into the stories they conveyed. It would be interesting and entertaining at the same time,? added Shah Sazzad. ?My particular project deals with the confrontation of art and photography. I?ve used very local characters and blended them with the fantasies of children to create something fun and beautiful. When presented in a bioscope, this very aspect of imagination and entertainment is aptly expressed and framed pieces would probably not have been this effective.?

Photography is still a very new concept in Bangladesh.?Pathshala, being one of the few local institutions offering dedicated courses in photography and its various aspects has successfully ? to an extent ? promoted the practice in this region. However, often people are under the impression that creative processes as such require no training, and if institutionalized, may lose its imaginative niche.
?I disagree with such opinions,? said Sazzad. ?Creative processes often require the greatest discipline. Ideas cannot be taught, but the technicalities need to be learnt. Things like framing, lighting, composition, mood and timing are matters that need to be handled carefully, and can impact the results.?
Fact remains there are still only a handful who opt for such an ?adventurous? and ?risky? lifestyle. Particularly, in case of female photographers, Bangladesh is yet a long way off. Although with changing attitudes, more women are getting interested in the field, few actually manage to get formal training in the subject. Of the 16 photographers who participated at the exhibition, Nurun Nahar Nargish ? being the only female of the lot ? had much to share on the matter.
?I come from a very simple family in Mymensingh. My father, on hearing I wanted to get admitted to Pathshala was very unwilling to let me go. I faced many obstacles, and even my wedding was arranged so I wouldn?t get involved in such a non-stereotype profession,? Nargish explained. ?I received a lot of support fromPathshala, my friends and other well-wishers who supported my decisions and even bore my living expenses.?Pathshala gave me scholarship, and I was able to pursue my field of interest. It is often difficult for a girl to move as freely as a boy does, and I ? being the only girl in my class ? was frequently at a disadvantage. Yet, with God?s blessings, I have crossed all the hurdles, and now my family is proud of what I do.?
Photo by D. M. Shibly
Indeed,?Pathshala has created a place for people who love photographs. The green banyan tree, iconic of wisdom and knowledge used as Pathshala?s logo has provided direction and shade to aspiring photographers of our time, and ?Perspectives? is an animated evidence of it. As Topu beautifully sums it, ?If you love photos, you must come to Pathshala.?

Photography and Painting: “For the Love of Egypt”

You are cordially invited to the inaugural ceremony of ?For the Love of Egypt? a photography and painting exhibition of Aadil Hoque to promote support of autistic children on 3rd April 2009 at 5:00 pm Friday at Drik Gallery.
H.E. Fayez Noseir, Ambassador of the Arab Republic of Egypt and Dr. Ahamed Al Shourbagy, Deputy Chief of Mission, Embassy of Egypt will grace the occasion as chief guests. Eminent sculptor and artist Professor Hamiduzzaman Khan will attend as special guest.
The exhibition will remain open for all till 10th April 2009 from 12 to 8pm everyday.
Syed Ashraful Alom (TiTo)
Executive
Gallery and Exhibition
Inauguration date:???????????? 3rd April 2009
Time:???????????????????????????????????? 5:00 pm
Exhibition duration:????????? 4 ? 10 April 2009 (12-8 pm. every day)
Venue:?????????????????????????????????? Drik Gallery, House 58, Road 15A (new), Dhanmondi Residential Area, Dhaka

Group Art Exhibition: “Time, Form & Perspective”

You are cordially invited to the inaugural ceremony of ?Time, Form & Perspective? a six day-long group art exhibition on 02 April 2009 at 5:30 pm at Drik gallery.
Mr. Shahjahan Ahmed Bikash, Associate Professor, University of Development Alternative (UODA) will be present as Chief Guest and inaugurate the exhibition. Renowned poet Mr. Motaleb Shah Ayub will be present as special guest.
The exhibition will remain open for all till 07 April 2009 from 3pm to 8pm everyday.
Syed Ashraful Alom (TiTo)
Executive
Gallery and Exhibition
Inauguration date:????????????? 02 April 2009
Time:???????????????????????????????????? 5:30 pm
Exhibition duration:????????? 03 ? 07 April 2009 (3-8 pm. every day)
Venue:?????????????????????????????????? Drik Gallery, House 58, Road 15A (new), Dhanmondi Residential Area, Dhaka.

Cartoon Exhibitions

Cartoons from 1971 and South Asian Cartoon Congress on display at Drik Galleries I and II

Himal organised two cartoon exhibitions in Kathmandu, Nepal as part of the first-ever Cartoon Congress on 14-15 November, 2008. After a week in Kathmandu the Abu Retrospective and the Nepali Exhibition have begun their travel around Southasia.
The tour premiered with
Dhaka Exhibition, in collaboration with Drik
Date: 22 December 2008
Venue: Drik Picture Library
Time: 3 PM
You are cordially invited to the Opening Ceremony of Two Cartoon Exhibition; jointly organize by Himal, South Asia-Drik and Unmad-Drik, at Drik Gallery, on December 22, 2008, at 3:00 pm.
Tanvir Murad Topu
Coordinator
Gallery and Exhibition

Inauguration date: 22 December 2008
Time: 3:00 pm
Exhibition duration: 22-28 December 2008 (3-8 pm. every day)
Venue: Drik Gallery, House 58, Road 15A (new), Dhanmondi Residential Area, Dhaka.

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Hajis at Zia International Airport

Pata Chitra exhibition at Drik Gallery by Raghunath Chakroborty.

Riddhi request the pleasure of your company at the inaugural ceremony of an eight day long solo painting exhibition titled ?Pata Chitra? by Raghunath Chakroborty, a folk artist on 14 November 2008 Friday at 4:30 pm at the Drik Gallery.

Professor Zillur Rahman Siddique, former Vice-Chancellor, Jahangirnagar University will be present as chief guest and inaugurate the exhibition. Artist Samarjit roy, Ata Sarker and Samsuzzaman Khan will present as special guest.
The exhibition will remain open for all till 21 November, 2008 everyday from 3pm to 8pm.
You are cordially invited.
Tanvir Murad Topu
Coordinator
Gallery and Exhibition
www.drik.net

You are cordially invited to the inauguration ceremony of ?The Right to Health?, an exhibition at Drik Gallery on Thursday, 30 October 2008 at 5pm. This exhibition is curated using different form of art media: cartoon, painting, personal stories and photography.

Mr. AMM Nasir Uddin, Secretary, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare

Government of the People?s Republic of Bangladesh will inaugurate the exhibition as the Chief Guest.

Ola Hallgren, charg? d?affaires, a.i., Embassy of Sweden and Mr. Heiner Schnelle, Head of Development Cooperation Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany will speak at the occasion as the Special Guests.

The exhibition will remain open for all till 12 November, 2008 everyday from 3pm to 8pm.

Tanvir Murad Topu

Coordinator Gallery & Exhibition

Drik Picture Library

www.drik.net

www.chobimela.org

www.majorityworld.com

www.pathshala.net

www.driknews.com

Inauguration Date: 30 October 2008

Inauguration Time: 5 pm

Duration of the exhibition: 30 October ? 12 November 2008

Venue: Drik Gallery, House 58, Road 15A (new) 26 (old), Dhanmondi R/A, Dhaka.