Chhobi Mela VIII from January 23

Sheikh Arif Bulbon :
The largest photography biennale in Asia, Chhobi Mela will launch its eighth edition in the capital on January 23 and will run till February 5.
The international festival is jointly organised by Drik Picture Library Ltd and Pathshala South Asian Media Institute.
More than 30 photographers from 22 countries have participated with their works in Chhobi Mela VIII with the theme titled ‘Intimacy.’
More than 10 workshops on different topics have been arranged for the festival.
This was announced at a press conference held at Drik Gallery in the city’s Dhanmondi area recently.
Renowned international and local photographers Larry Towell of the Magnum Photographer, New York Times Lens blog Editor James Estrin, Anwar Hossain of Bangladesh, World Press Photo winner Denis Dailleux and Spanish model-turned-photographer Cristina Nunez will take part in the festival’s artist talks, portfolio reviews and workshops.
The exhibitions are curated by Munem Wasif, ASM Rezaur Rahman and Tanzim Wahab while two guest curators – Salauddin Ahmed and Mahbubur Rahman – have also lent their hands on the task.
Shahidul Alam, the festival director, was present and gave a brief description about the festival in the conference.
The organisers said that Swapan Parekh, the World Press Photo juror and introducer of documentary aesthetics in Indian advertising photography, will hold a workshop titled ‘Shaping a Vision.’
Teun van der Heijden of Heijdens Karwei will visit Bangladesh for the first time to hold a book-making workshop titled ‘The Photobook: Going Beyond the Form,’ they said.