Yesterday I visited “My journey as a witness” exhibition at Wilmotte Gallery, London. The exhibition has a series of photographs taken by Shahidul Alam.
It’s a relatively small, intimate exhibition, but some of the photographs on display were very powerful and taken in Bangladesh in the Indian sub-continent. They covered different subjects such as the struggles facing flood and earthquake victims, Bangladeshi politics, Bangladeshi culture as well as day to day village life. Alam’s images date back as far as the 1980’s upto the present. Alam is a documentary photographer who has been influential in creating a platform for photographers to reach an international audience.
It’s interesting to note visual similarities it has with other countries in the Indian sub-continent such as India or Pakistan. In the exhibition, mono images sit alongside colour ones. Each carrying a certain ‘punch’ with the level of detail and contrast.
The “Shipbreaking workers carrying metal sheet” photograph from 2008, has a great composition and colours are very vibrant. Having very little focus and sharpness gives the image a slightly ‘cloudy’ look.
Other photographs such as “Flood victims in the rain” from 1988, contains a various emotions. This mono photograph shows a group of villagers who stand under some shelter, looking cold and confused. Some individuals stare at Alam’s lens, while others look on. This gives an insight into the challenges faced by the victims of a flood.
Being based in the west, I believe it’s valuable to gain an understanding about the different cultures around the world as well as the challenges they may face. This exhibition gives a great insight into some of the iconic photographs from Bangladesh.
For more information on the exhibition, visit: www.tristanhoare.co.uk