Chobi Mela, the largest photography biennale in Asia, will launch its eighth edition in the capital on January 23 and will run until February 5, 2015. The international festival is jointly organised by Drik Picture Library Ltd and Pathshala South Asian Media Institute.
In a press conference yesterday, the organisers said more than 30 photographers from 22 countries have participated with their works in Chobi Mela VIII themed “Intimacy.”
Renowned international and local photographers Larry Towell of the Magnum Photographer, New York Times Lens blog Editor James Estrin, Anwar Hossain of Bangladesh, World Press Photo winner Denis Dailleux and Spanish model-turned-photographer Cristina Nunez will take part in the festival’s artist talks, portfolio reviews and workshops.
The exhibitions are curated by Munem Wasif, ASM Rezaur Rahman and Tanzim Wahab while two guest curators – Salauddin Ahmed and Mahbubur Rahman – have also lent their hands on the task.
Shahidul Alam, the festival director, said at the press conference: “It is time Bangladesh began to take pride in itself. We are now a role model in the world of photography. The world is looking up at Bangladesh. The nation needs to respond.” He highlighted the new features of juxtaposing young and recognised artists along with alternative curatorial practices previously unseen in Bangladesh.
Swapan Parekh, the World Press Photo juror and introducer of documentary aesthetics in Indian advertising photography, will hold a workshop titled Shaping a Vision. Teun van der Heijden of Heijdens Karwei will visit Bangladesh for the first time to hold a book-making workshop titled The Photobook: Going Beyond the Form. More than 10 workshops on different topics have been arranged for the festival.
To ensure the presence of general spectators in the festival, the organisers keep the exhibitions free while a spectacular mobile exhibition has also been arranged like before which will roam in Dhaka city.