Wednesday, September 30, 2009

Shahidul Alam:
Light, shadow and clicks

Ershad Kamol

•   Part 1
•   Part 2

Internationally acclaimed photographer Shahidul Alam has transformed the face of photography in Bangladesh. He is the pioneer of establishing a platform for photography as an art form for the professionals. For decades Alam and his organisation Drik Picture Library have been functioning as moulder of photo artists in Bangladesh.

Born in 1955 in Dhaka, Shahidul Alam studied and obtained a PhD in organic chemistry from the University of London. He started photography in 1980 and within a very short time obtained recognition by winning Harvey Harris Trophy of the year provided by London Arts Council in 1983. His works have been exhibited in several world-acclaimed galleries such as the Museum of Modern Art in New York, the Tehran Museum of Contemporary Arts, the Royal Albert Hall in London, Le centre Georges Pompidou in Paris and the National Art Gallery in Kuala Lumpur. He has also held the helm of several national and international organisations on photography.

In an interview with the Daily Star Online, Shahidul Alam talks about the continuous struggle to create the platform for photography, current scenario of photography as an art form in Bangladesh and its global acceptance. According to Alam, Bangladesh is now considered as the hallowed ground for photography for organising international festival like 'Chobi Mela' and through the activities of Drik Picture Library and Pathshala, South Asian Institute of Photography.

He has chaired the World Press Photo international jury. A visiting professor of photography at the University of Sunderland, Alam says the power to move viewers is the essence of good photography. Shahidul Alam is optimistic about the future of the art form, since there are many potential young photographers in the country.