Representative photographers from all the continents inaugurated the sixth international photography exhibition, Chobi Mela VI, at the Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy’s National Theatre Hall on Friday.
More than 500 photographs from 31 countries will be put on display at seven venues in the two-week festival titled ‘dream’.
The festival also includes mobile exhibitions, 34 digital presentations including projection of two films and the staging of a play.
Mario Macilau, David de Souza, Kelly Hussy-Smith, Laurence Leblanc, Nadia Baram and Dick Doughty inaugurated the festival, which began with the screening of video clips on the festival held in previous years.
Speaking at the programme, festival director Shahidul Alam said, ‘Our dream is that the power of arts and the strength of our conviction will triumph. That the power of the gun will crumble before the power of reason and conscience. That through our photography and our story telling we will right the wrongs.’
Pointing out how a photograph of a man being tortured at Abu Gharib prison caught the attention of the world, International Criminal Court prosecutor Dr Luis Moreno-Ocampo, in a special message for the Chobi Mela VI said, ‘Picture promotes change, promotes social change – that’s why this festival is so important.’
Palestinian political analyst Omar Barghouti in a message said, ‘We dream not to escape from reality but to remind ourselves that we can transform it.’
This year, photographs will also be showcased at Alliance Francaise, Asiatic Gallery of Fine Arts, British Council, Drik Gallery, Goethe-Institute and fine arts faculty Lichutala of Dhaka University.
