In between borders and other social constructs

In between borders and other political constructs, a two-day solo exhibition by photographer Nujhat Purnata, will conclude today at Gallery 6, Fine Arts Building in Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy (BSA).

Advisory Council Member of Awami League, Tofail Ahmed attended the opening ceremony yesterday, as the chief guest. President of Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) Dr Rubana Huq, and Editor of The Daily Kaler Kantha Imdadul Haq Milan, were present at the event as special guests.

General Secretary of Jatiya Press Club Farida Yeasmin, and Editor of Bangladesh Pratidin and General Secretary of Editors’ Council Naem Nizam, alongside other notable journalists, graced the occasion with their presence.

The photo exhibition has been arranged to generate awareness about current situation of the Rohingya being marginalised due to political constructs. Half of the gallery feature pictures titled, Nameless Faces at Balukhali Camp, Coxs Bazar. The rest is named, From Around the World. Given the option to highlight local people, Purnata decided to portray Rohingya refugees. “We welcomed them with a big heart. However, with time our behaviour towards them have degraded,” she said. “My exhibition focuses on creating consciousness on the ideology that they are not different from us and deserve a better life.” She stressed on the Rohingya refugees and expressed that the condition and crisis these people are going through is because of political and social constructs, which are manmade.

All of the exhibited photos have been taken in last four years in different parts of the world. “One of the pictures show that a lady from the refugee camp is sitting with crockeries, while another picture from France shows a woman carrying her pet,” shared Purnata. “These two people are living completely different lives, just because they are born in different geographical locations, with aligned borders, and are bound by restricted social and political barriers made by man!” She also mentioned that this contrast has been placed to classify the differences that push us to forgo all that makes us human.

Nujhat Purnata graduated in Mass Communication and Journalism from University of Massachusetts in the United States of America.

The open for all exhibition will remain open from 11 am till 8 pm.