Articles
Traveling Chobi Mela V - the first international photo festival of its kind in Nepal
Photography is a powerful tool for expression especially in a country like Nepal where the majority of the people is illiterate. What you cannot convey in words, you can convey with a single click. For most photojournalists and citizens alike, photography is one of the few universal languages that can be shared and understood.
That's why Chobi Mela V, the international photo festival, marks an extraordinary day for Nepal—it is the first of its kind here and the first out of Bangladesh, where it orginally started. Organized by photo.circle, the event that began on May 22 showcased 12 exhibitions on the theme, Freedom, by artists from 9 nations: Argentina, Bangladesh, France, Japan,United States, The Netherlands, Nepal, Nigeria and Norway. From Nepal, Sailendra Kharel, a photojournalist, portrayed Nepal's long struggle to republic with his exhibit, Rugged Road to Republic.
The festival experienced heavy rain and the generator malfunctioned from time to time, but the event continued as Dr. Shahidul Alam, festival director of Chobi Mela and founder of the Drik Agency, an international photo news agency, and Pathshala, the South Asian Institute of Photography, gave the opening speech.
Alam said that Chobi Mela is not just about exhibitions, but it is about “changing the mindset of society that does not consider photography as an important profession.” He urged photographers and photojournalists alike “to take strength and have pride” in their profession. Addressing the need for equality, he said that one of the changes that need to be made is the discrimination faced by street people when they cannot enter a prestigious gallery or when they are given an unpleasant look when they do so. He praised Nayantara Gurung Kakshapati, founder of photo.circle and her associates for their “collective strength, energy and defiance.” Other guest speakers included Mukunda Bahadur Shrestha, a Nepali photographer who has been taking snaps of the changing scenario of Nepal for the past 33 years—he is now 83; H.E. Mr. Imtiaz Ahmed, Bangladeshi Ambassador to Nepal; and Philippe Martin, director of Alliance Francaise. The festival concluded with music by Kutumba, Nepali folk ensemble, who performed a special piece composed on freedom.
Chobi Mela, meaning photo festival in Bengali, is the first festival of photography in Asia, and was conceived in December 2000 in Dhaka, Bangladesh. Western photographers were receiving world-wide fame when South Asian countries were not even aware of photographers in their neighboring countries. Non-western photographs were not given the due recognition they deserved. The concept of Chobi Mela was born to bridge this gap since in Bangladesh, like other South Asian countries, majority of the people cannot read or write and photography is one of the few ways to reach the average person. Chobi Mela V took place from January 30 to February 20, 2009 in Dhaka, Bangladesh and the event in Nepal is a continuation of the festival.
In Nepal, the event is being hosted from May 22 to May 28 at the Nepal Art Council in Babar Mahal with 12 exhibitions on the theme, Freedom, by artists from nine nations: Argentina, Bangladesh, France, Japan,United States, The Netherlands, Nepal, Nigeria and Norway. The event will also feature workshops and presentations on various themes such as, curating exhibitions, the use of photography in social activism, digital workflow, among others. For more information, go to: photocircle.com.np/chobimela.
Workshop schedule (All workshops listed below are free of charge and will be held at the Nepal Art Council in Babar Mahal).
Curating Exhibitions
Workshop by A S M Rezaur Rahman, Curatorial Director of Chobi Mela V, Dhaka
Saturday, 23rd May 2009 | 4 pm
Use of Photography in Social Activism
Presentation by Robert Godden/ Rights Exposure Project
Sunday, 24th May 2009 | 4 pm
Understanding Light, Composition and Your Camera
Workshop by Bikas Rauniar, Photo Editor, Kantipur Publications
Monday, 25th May 2009 | 11 am- 1 pm
* Open to entry level photographers
Digital Workflow
Workshop by Ashesh Rajbansh/ Canon
Monday, 25th May 2009 | 4 pm
Making a Portfolio
Workshop by Munem Wasif/ VU
Tuesday, 26th May | 5 pm
Photography by Shreyans Tamang, V.E.N.T! Magazine
Yuko Maskay
Yuko Maskay wanted to create a space where people can come together and share their love of everything creative. Her theory is that if you dig deep enough, everybody has an amazing story to tell and everybody has the potential to be who they want to be (with the right catalyst). V.E.N.T! perks: she gets to work with a team of world class talents and crazies who gives it their all while having a blast in the process. She's inspired by inspiration. Read more of her works at reasontopause.blogspot.com. Contact her at yuko AT ventzine DOT com.
( May 23rd 2009, 06:48 AM ) says:
Was there from 17th May .....and will be there for till 28th May .....
( May 23rd 2009, 08:30 PM ) says:
Great work gaurav.....Well was there on the opening day..really great event...will try to make it to the workshop ....
Can't wait to participate!