Shahidul Alam to talk at National Geographic Store

Internationally renowned Bangladeshi photographer, writer, curator and teacher Dr. Shahidul Alam, will lead a free public talk at the National Geographic Store next week.

During the 40 minute talk Dr. Alam, a National Geographic juror and photographer, will discuss his 30 year career in documentary photography, as well as his role as one of the most respected photography educators in the world.

Dr. Alam's work in establishing networks for photography and media professionals in his native Bangladesh has opened up the medium to an entirely new generation of artists. As a result, Bangladesh now has the highest number of documentary photographers in the world, some of whom, thanks to his efforts, are becoming internationally acclaimed. Alam founded the award-winning Drik Picture Library (http://www.drik.net) in 1989; the Bangladesh Photographic Institute in 1990; Pathshala, the South Asian Institute of Photography - considered one of the finest schools of photography in the world - (http://www.pathshala.net) and ‘Chobi Mela' (http://www.chobimela.org), a biennial international festival of photography, which is held in the capital, Dhaka. Alam's most recent project is the founding of Majority World, a photo agency dedicated to providing a platform for non-Western photographers.

A jury member of numerous competitions including World Press Photo, for which he has been a judge on four occasions and recently the first non-Western person to chair the international jury, Alam was also the first Asian recipient of the prestigious Mother Jones Award for Documentary Photography. His work has been exhibited internationally, including: the MOMA, New York; the Centre Georges Pompidou, Paris; the Royal Albert Hall, London; and The Museum of Contemporary Arts, Tehran.

Dr. Alam's week-long visit to the UK is a result of his first retrospective photography exhibition at the Wilmotte Gallery at Lichfield Studios (http://www.tristanhoare.co.uk) from 6th October -18 November, and the release of his forthcoming book, SHAHIDUL ALAM: My Journey as a Witness, published by Skira, Milan, and edited by Rosa Maria Falvo. The book will be launched at the Grand Hyatt Churchill Hotel in London at 5.30 pm.

For further information on Dr. Alam's talk, book and exhibtion please contact Alice Broughton on alice@theresasimon.com. For a selection of high resolution images visit theresasimon.com/press ‘Wilmotte Gallery: Shahidul Alam'

October 4th, 6 pm
National Geographic Store
83-97 Regent Street
London