Chobi Mela VIII begins in Dhaka
Chobi Mela VIII begins in Dhaka
Anwar Hossain honoured with lifetime achievement award
The eight edition of Chobi Mela, Asia's largest photography festival, began in Dhaka on Friday. President Abdul Hamid inaugurated the two-week event, themed this year on “Intimacy” on January 23.
The opening ceremony was held at the National Theatre Hall of Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy (BSA) in presence of distinguished guests. Asaduzzaman Noor, Cultural Affairs Minister; Liaquat Ali Lucky, BSA Director General; James Estrin, NY Times Lens Blog Editor and Ruth Eichhorn, Director of Photography of the Geo magazine -- were present among others at the opening ceremony.
Chobi Mela VIII honoured legendary Bangladesh photographer, Anwar Hossain with lifetime achievement award. Throughout his illustrious career as a photographer, cinematographer and a teacher, Anwar Hossain has made an extraordinary contribution in the field of photography in Bangladesh. President Abdul Hamid handed over the award to the photographer at the opening ceremony.
Earlier in the day, a rally was brought out from National Press Club to BSA with participation of organisers, guests, and spectators from all walks of life.
Soon after the opening, a large crowd gathered at the main venue, BSA's National Art Plaza Gallery, to catch a glimpse of the fest. BSA is hosting the highest number of exhibitions, including Magnum photographer Larry Towell's “The Mennonites”, Paolo Patrizi's “Migrant Sex Workers”, and Shirin Neshat's “Turbulent”. The venue also hosts the highest number of exhibitions by Bangladeshi photographers.
What makes this eighth edition stand out and stay much ahead of its past editions is its curatorial excellence. The way curators selected and treated the images and exhibitions is unprecedented in Bangladesh. The gallery wore a new look as the arrangement photographs and installations reached a new level of perfection.
This edition of Chobi Mela's theme challenges the definition of intimacy, and unfolds a new horizon of personal spaces and belongings.