ChobiMela

Chobi Mela, the first festival of photography in Asia and the largest celebration of photography and visual storytelling brought to you by Drik Picture Library Ltd. and Pathshala South Asian Media Institute. The first Chobi Mela – International Festival of Photography was held during the period of December 1999 - January 2000. It is the most demographically inclusive photo festival in the world and is held every two years in Dhaka, Bangladesh.

Since its inception in 2000, Chobi Mela, has not only been the single biggest photography event in Asia but also one of the most exciting ventures and the first of a regular biennale that has become one of the highlights of the Asian calendar.

Transition is an important phase of life and also the IX theme of Chobi Mela for the year 2017. The festival will be launched on February 3 continue till February 16, 2017.
Ensuring the general public’s access is an important part of the festival. Change is an essential element of life, because nothing on the earth is constant. When life suddenly brings you to such a point, you have never imagined before, it leaves a profound effect on us. The way of viewing, watching or even thinking differs; it gets change. The whole concept of living life go through a upside-down change, the boundaries became meaningless, thoughts are not chained by do’s and don'ts, fear is released from the heart and ultimately the spirit became free. This change gives a new meaning to life. Added to it, when photography exhibition held on this theme, it redefined the meaning of conventional photography, where the art might be trapped in a corner between two dimensional frames but the concept is eternal. It’s the visual magic of those who are married to the grain of silver; they touch and feel through the eyes. This experience of watching might take you to the new heights.

The festival will be curated by Munem Wasif, ASM Rezaur Rahman and Tanzim Wahab. Two guest curators Salauddin Ahmed and Mahbubur Rahman had also joined this team earlier in 2014.
Munem Wasif : Munem Wasif is a documentary photographer based in Dhaka. He has been represented by Agence Vu in Paris since2008. is a documentary photographer based in Dhaka. He has been represented by Agence Vu in Paris since 2008. Tanzim Wahab: A photographer and lecturer, Tanzim Wahab is currently the Vice Principal of Pathshala South Asian Media Institute.

ASM Rezaur Rahman: ASM Rezaur Rahman has designed and curated many national and international projects has designed and curated many national and international projects and is currently the General Manager of Drik and a Lecturer on Curatorial Practice at Pathshala South Asian Media Academy.

Salauddin Ahmed: Ahmed is currently in architectural practice in Dhaka, and involve in the local academia. Mahbubur Rahman: Mahbubur is a founder-trustee of Britto Arts Trust, the first ever non-profit artists’ run platform. Mahbub has held a number of solos and group shows at home and abroad. He has handled various mediums and introduced several art forms in the art scene of Bangladesh

The lists of workshops organized are;

Aesthetics in Photography Tutor: Hasan Saifuddin Chandan Date: 15 Jan - 17 Jan 2015
Editing a Portfolio Tutor: Rebecca Simons & Reem Saouma Date: 29 Jan 2015
Installing from the Inside Out Tutor: Philip Blenkinsop Date: 18 Jan - 22 Jan 2015
Introspective Photography Tutor: Hasib Zakaria Date: 14 Jan - 19 Jan 2015
Telling Stories Tutor: Paolo Patrizi Date: 18 Jan - 22 Jan 2015
Self Portrait Experience Tutor: Cristina Nunez Date: 24 Jan - 26 Jan 2015
Between Fordism, Post-Fordism & Neo-Fordism Tutor: Lars Willumeit & Andrea Diefenbach Date: 25 Jan - 29 Jan 2015
Shaping a Vision Tutor: Swapan Parekh Date: 25 Jan - 27 Jan 2015
The Photobook: Going Beyond the Form Tutor: Teun van der Heijden Date: 25 Jan - 29 Jan 2015
Sculpting With Light Tutor: Mahbubur Rahman Date:01 Sept- 31 Dec 2014

Following are eminent persons who review the portfolios of other budding curators, artists and photographers those who participate in these exhibitions. The list consists of;