I almost forgot about my blog lately. I got busy. Busy with many things. Especially I got busy with them. They run around on a roof in this city. Those who wants to have them for dinner, this is for you – ‘Duck You’. (And go duck yourselves)
Sarker
Pathshala, 2014
To celebrate The World Photography Day coming 19th August’13, Pathshala is going to arrange the first Photo book show in Bangladesh. 50 International Photo books will be exhibited and we would like to invite you to come see and experience the Art of Photo books. It’s about holding the books, turn the pages and even smell it, to appreciate photography through the medium of books. We look forward to see you this Monday!
When one meets Sarker Protick, he immediately strikes one as a musician. His fingers are slender from having plucked guitar strings for too long, while his eyes are intent and dreamy at the same time. Interestingly though, one wouldn’t be too far off; not so long ago, Protick was indeed part of a band.
“Photography wasn’t a conscious decision on my part. I liked taking pictures and got admitted to Pathshala. For the first two years, I had no idea what I was doing there, except that I really enjoyed taking pictures,” confessed Protick. “In celebration of 12 years of Pathshala, a book was published comprising of some of the more meaningful works from photographers who have emerged from Pathshala – and my work was selected. It was then that I realised that if there was something I liked doing, and I was doing well at it – I might as well keep on doing it.”
‘What Remains’ by Sarker Protick
Protick’s work carries an endearingly original voice. Simple, minimalistic, poignantly personal – his philosophy of less is more is well defined in his photographs. In the story of his grandparents, John and Prova – titled ‘What Remains’ and exhibiting in Chobi Mela VII – Protick relays the sense of waiting, of a life spent between two people and the rekindling of a bond. He admits how he once didn’t enjoy his grandparents company because he didn’t know what to talk about; but as he began photographing them to break the silence, he began rediscovering relationships beyond of what is evident. His grandmother passed away during the project, and Protick began to visit his grandfather more frequently so he had someone to talk to – and now, what began as a simple process of recognition has evolved to an eternity of belonging.
“I often feel artists have a label of being vagabond, particularly in the context of Bangladesh. A responsible institution perhaps guides the artist, and makes him or her realise that being professional and organised is just as much of an art as what is being produced,” shares Protick. “I feel responsible towards the medium, in terms of redefining it and exploring it – but photography for me has always been a personal calling. Many of the best photographers in the world are self-taught, but I’m glad something like Pathshala exists for those who can do better and learn much more than just technicalities.”
Protick essentially feels the best work comes from within the heart. It is important to be hard-working and smart, but it’s more important to have talent, to develop something original that comes from one’s guts. He has lived by it till now and bravely admits he hasn’t regretted it, yet.
by Sabhanaz Rashid Diya
Kamra 2nd Edition@Sarker Protick
Kamra is excited to announce the launching of Kamra Edition 2, with co-publisher, Nokta. Kamra is a bangla book on photography which published its first edition on 26th January, 2012. After getting overwhelming response with edition 1, Kamra edition 2 comes with more texts, photographs, interviews and discussions. By keeping documentary photography in mind, Kamra edition 2 included the wide range of documentary practice with unique and different views.
Join us this 9th January at Pathshala for the launching of the New book!
All About Kamra:
Today 5:00 PM at Pathshala. we will present our final show. So, these are for our friends who are not in Dhaka/outside of the country, but will be with us in spirit. For you, here is a glance of what we are up to these days, works in progress. We are the 10th Batch of Pathshala.
Bangladeshi photography is always recognized for its very known social documentary. Previously, the content was mostly about social issues we suffer with, starting from poverty to violence or climate issues. But things have been shifted, a new branch of photographers entered to the scene and started to deal with other issues, which are sometimes more urban, personal and complex. They are not only exploring untouched contents, but also different and own visual language. An own way of telling the story. The works are in progress and this presentation contains 8 bodies of works which are trying to get a space in our documentary practice.
Tanzim Wahab
Photograph@ Md. Anisul Hoque
Dear all,
It is our pleasure to invite you to the photographic presentation “In
Progress” presented by 8 young photographers. The eight Participating
Photographers are:
Arifur Rahman Munir
Anisul Hoque
Jannatul Mawa
Kauser Haider
Rasel Chowdhury
Tushikur Rahman
Soumitra Barua
Sarker Protick
Please check the schedule of the presentation:
Date: 27th April, 2012
Day: Friday
Time: 5:00 PM
Venue: Pathshala (Room # 1)
We all hope to see you there!
Warmly,
Munem Wasif
Can photography be taught?
The limits and possibilities of photographic education
Photograph - Sarker Protick
Shahidul Alam, Tanzim Wahab, Munem Wasif’s talk in Dhaka Art Summit.
My tear sheets from the book ‘Under the Banyan Tree‘, a retrospective book published last year at the 12 years anniversary of Patshala. It contains 15 Body of works by the Pathshala students from the very 1st batch of the school, including Abir Abdullah, Munem Wasif, Andrew Biraj, Saiful Haq Omi and more. My work ‘In Midnight Black’ was selected for this book along with two of my friend Tushikur Rahman and Rasel Chowdhury.
Here is Youtube link to the Book- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cT_JoY2qE-g
And a blog about the book- http://underthebanyantree.tumblr.com/
The name of the book derives from the Arabic word Kamra, which translates to the word Room. After being adopted into Latin, the word became Camera and then Camera obscura, which means Darkroom. Featuring works of early masters such as, Golam Kashem Dady, Monjurul Alam Beg, Anwar Hossain and more, the book contains interviews and theoretical texts on Bangladeshi and global photography. Edited by Tanzim Wahab and Munem Wasif, It is now available at Pathshala and will be released at National Book Fair, 1st of February.
© Tushikur Rahman
Participants from Bangladesh gear up for the OUC/Pathshala Collaborative Workshop, as the Pre workshop kicked off yesterday.
This workshop in international reporting is focused on how to work as an international photojournalist. It consists of a theoretical pre-course, a fieldwork and editing of the reportage after the fieldwork. Conducted by world renowned photographers Eugene Richards, Frank Fournier & Philip Blenkinsop, OUC/Pathshala Collaborative Workshop is the finest international workshop Pathshala offers.
Sarker Protick 