Nasir Ali Mamun’s 66th solo exhibition to open at AFD

The 66th solo exhibition of renowned photographer Nasir Ali Mamun will open on Friday (April 3) at Alliance Française de Dhaka, featuring rare portraits and archival materials of two of Bangladesh’s most influential poets.

Titled “Photoseum: Life of Poetree”, the exhibition will be held at La Galerie and continue until April 16. It brings together an extensive collection of black-and-white portraits dedicated to Shamsur Rahman (1929–2006) and Al Mahmud (1936–2019).

The exhibition is also dedicated to the bicentenary of photography.

Among those expected at the opening are Matiur Rahman, editor and publisher of Prothom Alo; Jean-Marc Séré-Charlet; artist Monirul Islam; and Kamal Quadir.

Over several decades, Mamun has documented many of the country’s leading cultural figures, building what is widely regarded as a visual archive of Bangladesh’s intellectual history. This exhibition focuses on two distinct poetic voices.

Shamsur Rahman’s work is rooted in urban experience, marked by humanism, existential inquiry, and resistance to oppression. In contrast, Al Mahmud’s poetry draws from rural life, folklore, and spiritual traditions, blending modernist techniques with indigenous themes.

Mamun’s portraits reflect these differences. His images of Rahman often evoke introspection, with restrained lighting and quiet composition. His portraits of Al Mahmud, by contrast, suggest a denser emotional landscape shaped by memory, experience, and solitude.

A key highlight of the exhibition is a rare visual record of a historic meeting between the two poets. Long estranged due to ideological differences, they met on May 31, 2004, at Rahman’s residence in Shyamoli after repeated efforts by Mamun. He documented the encounter through photographs and video, alongside an interview later published in Prothom Alo. The materials are presented here as part of the exhibition.

The show features around 60 photographs along with previously unpublished video footage, emphasising the enduring power of black-and-white portraiture. Minimalist framing and controlled use of light and shadow draw attention to the subjects’ expressions and inner lives.

Born on July 1, 1953, in Dhaka, Mamun is widely regarded as a pioneer of portrait photography in Bangladesh. Over a career spanning more than five decades, he has held 65 solo exhibitions and authored 20 books.

His contributions have been recognised with major honours, including the Shilpakala Padak (2018), Bangla Academy Honorary Fellowship (2022), and the Ekushey Padak (2025).