Committed to PEOPLE'S RIGHT TO KNOW
Vol. 5 Num 1064 Wed. May 30, 2007  
   
Culture


Photo exhibition
Bangladesh through Russian eyes


To mark the International Day of Child Protection, the Russian Centre of Science and Culture is holding a weeklong photo exhibition featuring works by Alexander Komorov Sasha. The exhibit is called "Bangladesh through the eyes of a Russian youth". Sixteen year-old Sasha is a Russian student living in Dhaka. Photography is his hobby, along with painting and sports. He is self-taught, although at times he is guided by his local older friends. His photos mainly deal with nature and at times bring in people too.

"I wanted to capture the beauty of forms and colours of trees, birds and insects and I felt that photography was a good way to do that," says Sasha. "I'd brought in cityscape and portraits too, at times, apart from the tranquil Bangladeshi rivers. When I first came to Bangladesh I was not mesmerized by the charm of nature around me right away, but gradually I grew to appreciate it. Now I long to record it so that when I'm away I'll carry these memories with me. I usually take colour photos," adds Sasha.

In one photo one sees a delightful greenish bird, sitting on an electric cable. Next is a close-up of a butterfly sitting on a cluster of blue flowers. The subject is black and gold with lines and dots across it, seen against a pale grey backdrop. A picture of sunset in Rajshahi brings in a river with bushes and trees. The picture is buoyant with colours of a dying day.

Several people are seen on a boat in another photograph. Along with other fauna are the typical banana trees and haystacks seen in the Bangladeshi countryside. The sky is bluish pink while the water is a scintillating mauve. The trees appear like a line of paper cut-outs seen against the sky. The scene speaks of peace and harmony. In another scene is a man rowing a boat while behind him, on the river-bank, are bricks from a kiln nearby.

Men cleaning fishing nets and sorting fish with some onlookers are seen in another photograph. Houses and trees are seen in pale impressions in purple and grey in the back. An old lady carrying twigs and branches is seen in one entry while a little girl loaded with such tree branches, wending her way home is seen in another picture.

A picture of the setting sun has purple clouds with the stream of river in front. Another has the same subject with variation of colours from the land, trees and sky.

Considering Sasha's age, the works are fairly impressive, and should encourage other potential shutter-buggers.

Picture
Photographs by Alexander Komorov Sasha