Dhaka: The greatest part of living as an artist is being able to be surprised, to understand that the essence of life is hidden in the small and insignificant details of life. These words were spoken by Munem Wasif, a photographer working on visual arts at the Bengal Art Gallery in Dhaka.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, Munem Wasif’s solo visual arts exhibition titled ‘Gradually’ began on April 18. The exhibition, which is open to visitors, will run from 4 pm to 8 pm every day until May 31. Discussing his activities and perception of life, Wasif shared his long-standing passion for Old Dhaka, where he lived for several years and which inspired much of his work.
The exhibition features various pictures of Old Dhaka, a place that continuously surprises Wasif, touching the essence of people’s lives. Wasif expressed that working with visual arts was a natural choice, saying, “I worked in this medium, I liked it and I chose my life through it.”
Accompanying the exhibition is his book ‘Gradually,’ which includes writings from four authors about his works. Additionally, another book, published by Paris International Publishers, showcases black and white photographs taken over twelve years in Paris. Wasif hopes to translate these works into Bengali for broader accessibility.
In 2023, Wasif was awarded the Robert Gardner Fellowship from Harvard University’s Peabody Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology to explore the history of indigo cultivation in Bengal. He received a grant of about 5.4 million Bangladeshi taka, marking him as the first Bangladeshi photographer to earn this honor. Wasif plans to use this fellowship for his artwork titled ‘Indigo,’ a multi-dimensional narrative on the retrospective history of indigo cultivation.
Wasif’s work often delves into themes of transience and insecurity using photography, moving images, archival documents, and collected materials. His narrative, ‘gradually,’ unfolds in three phases – the internal, the superficial, and the conscious – capturing the past, present, and an imagined future.
His substantial and thoughtful images have been exhibited at prestigious venues such as the Centre Pompidou, Palais de Tokyo, Victoria and Albert Museum, and others worldwide. Wasif’s publications include notable works like Belonging Clementine and Salt Water Tears, alongside a collection of Bengali essays on photography.
Munem Wasif’s academic background includes studying sociology at Dhaka University and photography at Pathshala. His contributions extend to teaching at the Pathshala South Asian Media Institute and co-curating Chobi Mela since 2015.