Shahidul Islam, founder of Chobi Mela and Drik Gallery, discusses the magic of amateur photographers in Bangladesh. Yesterday at the Hay Festival, Drik launched an anniversary book from the series Bangladesh. Seen From Within.
What is the idea behind the series?
Over the last few years, Bangladesh has seen a dramatic shift in the field of photography. There was a time when Bangladesh was largely represented by the images of visiting photojournalists and NGOs befitting the imagery of a failed nation. Despite all the things that are not right in our nation, there is much reason for hope.
This rich, nuanced, insightful look at our community is the look of pride of a nation with self-belief. It celebrates both the power of photography and it celebrates the power of our photography.
To mark the 25th anniversary of Drik, we will be launching one book every year for the next five years, portraying the positive and promising aspects of today’s Bangladesh through photographs. Each of the books will act as an ambassador of our country to the world.
Ways of Life was the first book of the series, which you edited. Tell us about it.
If you flip through the pages of Ways of Life, you will come across photos by amateur photographers about ordinary life.
The book combines their work with a limited number of images produced by professionals. These are images from everyday life, which are made special by the trained eye of photographers.
This anniversary book, the first of a series presenting Bangladesh today, is an ode to photography and Bangladesh seen from within. It is also a celebration of life.
Why have you chosen to highlight the work of amateurs over professionals?
We embraced amateur photographers in this book for the magic they are able to create with images.
The joy of making an image is the only reward the amateur seeks, which helps them to consistently produce fresh, vibrant and original images that their professional peers would be proud of.
By embracing the amateur, it also ensures that such dynamic art forms will not merely remain restricted to the reach of the elite, and that the transformative power of the medium will be an agent for positive change.
