The moving nature of reality is portrayed within the still photographs in a solo exhibition of photographer Gazi Nafis Ahmed at the
Edward M Kennedy Center in Dhanmondi.
Titled Kinetic, this is the artist’s seventh solo exhibition. Earlier, the photographer has exhibited his works in Spain, England, Derby, China,
India, Cambodia and Bangladesh.All the 44 photographs showcased at the exhibition are taken in different locations in Bangladesh. The one thing that is noticeable is that all the photographs are in black and white prints.
Nafis has an explanation for bringing his works in black and white prints only. ‘For me, colour stands for reality, and black and white stand for ultra reality’, he explained.
In Nafis’s works, people are the dominating subject. He has captured mostly humans in different actions and motions. For example, many of his works capture the working people during their work; like two men pulling a cart, a hawker selling his items and others.
Besides, there are photographs of blood-stained human faces.
The blood-stained human faces may remind of violence prevalent in our society. But they are photographs of people doing their religious duty as in times of Ashura (a Muslim religious ritual) and Charak Puja (a Hindu ritual), where the rituals necessitate blood of the devotees.
Looking at the photos together, the photographs document the colliding and moving elements of our social reality. ‘Photography is a personal thing for me. It is a form of understanding. I express myself and my surrounding reality through this medium,’ said Nafis.
Inaugurated on Tuesday, the exhibition will remain open for all from 10am to 8pm till November 17.
-With New Age input
