'FLIPSIDE. MADE IN BANGLADESH' under way at Drik Gallery

Drik, in partnership with Goethe Institut Dhaka, organised 'Flipside. Made in Bangladesh', a photography exhibition by German artist Sabrina Asche. The exhibition is an outcome of a photography workshop in which eight Bangladeshi women who work in Dhaka's garment and textile industry took part in February 2018. Bobita Akhter, Mahfuja Akter, Mina Begum, Rukaiya Sultana, Shapla Akter, Shipra Gayen, Tania Aktar and Tanjila Akter Surma were the participants. They learned photography, and documented their daily lives following a collective process of sharing, discussing and reflecting on their images. It is a medium which allows the viewer to perceive the world more holistically. The exhibition contains 8 walls representing the lives of these eight women. Each wall consists of 25 cards; on one side of each card is a description of the photograph, hand-written by the women and on the other side is the photograph clicked. One is invited to 'flip' the images to continue this dialogue. “Everyone has a different interpretation of art, when we look at something, we relate to it in different senses,” explains Sabrina. “'Filpside. Made in Bangladesh' brings out the interpretations of the photographs as written by the hardworking garment workers and is a true peek into their daily lives.” The event was inaugurated on December 10 at Drik Gallery.

Honourable Ambassador, Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany, H E Peter Fahrenholtz, eminent human rights activist, Khushi Kabir, and renowned photographer Shahidul Alam were present at the inauguration ceremony. “For those of us who work for human rights, it is not about statistics, but every individual's right to express themselves, building up their lives as they want to – that is actually a human's right. Here, when you flip the images, you can see their dreams, feelings and desires to be who they want to be,” commented Khushi Kabir. “I congratulate these women, who have successfully proved, that if one wants, can express one's own-self in whichever way they want. Furthermore, I congratulate Sabrina, Goethe and Drik for such a wonderful initiative.” H E Peter Fahrenholtz was appreciative of the work done by Sabrina to uplift these women, as he said that self-expression is an undeniable human right in today's world. The exhibition will be open for all till December 19, everyday from 3 pm to 8 pm.