Shahidul Alam
| Shahidul Alam | |
|---|---|
 Alam in Malaysia (May 2009) | |
| Born | 1955 (age 60–61) |
Shahidul Alam (born 1955 in Dhaka, Bangladesh) is a Bangladeshi photographer and social activist. He is the founder of Drik.
Life and work
Alam studied and taught chemistry in London where he obtained a Doctor of Philosophy from the University of London.[1]
In 1989, he set up Drik picture library and in 1998, Pathshala: South Asian Institute of Photography. He is also a director of Chobi Mela, the festival of photography in Asia.[2] Jury member of numerous competitions including World Press Photo where he has been a judge on four occasions, he was the first Asian chair of the World Press Photo contest judging panel.[3]
Alam set up the South Asian Media Academy. His recent exhibition "Crossfire" curated by Peruvian curator Jorge Villacorta has been widely acclaimed, but was closed down by the police leading to nationwide protests.[4][5][6][7] The police barricade was removed after Drik’s lawyers served legal notice on the government. The court’s response and subsequent events enabled Drik to open the exhibition for public viewing on 31 March.[7]
References
- ↑ Karim, Elita (2008-02-08). "Changing the Face of Photography". The Daily Star. Retrieved 31 March 2015.
- ↑ "Chobi-Mela". Asia Pulse. United News of Bangladesh. 6 December 2004.
Festival director for Chobi Mela Shahidul Alam presided.
- ↑ Fariha Karim (April 2009), Shahidul Alam, Nafas Art Magazine, retrieved 31 March 2015
- ↑ Gonzalez, David (16 March 2010). "Where Death Squads Struck in Bangladesh". The New York Times.
- ↑ Bayazid Akter (22 March 2010). "'Crossfire' exhibition sparks angry police reaction". Demotix. Retrieved 31 March 2015.
- ↑ Satish Sharma (n.d.), Drik: Photo power, retrieved 31 March 2015
- 1 2 Rahnuma Ahmed (n.d.), Representing ‘Crossfire’: politics, art and photography, retrieved 31 March 2015