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January Issue
2009
Charleston Center
for Photography in Charleston, SC, Features Works by G.M.B. Akash
The Charleston Center for Photography (CC4P) in Charleston, SC, will present the exhibit, The Visual Cultural Awards' Visual Maker of the Year, featuring works by G.M.B. Akash, on view from Jan. 2 - 31, 2009.
"The Visual Cultural Awards' (tVCA) goal is to gather together images with visual cross-cultural impact and to encourage communal support for intercultural visual communicators," explains Mikayla Mackaness, founder of tVCA.
Photographers from 38 different nations submitted their work for tVCA exhibition this year. However, only one photographer, G.M.B. Akash, was named the Gold recipient for the portfolio category. Akash is a professional photojournalist from Bangladesh, India.
"Isolation is not
a barrier: I grew up in Bangladesh and have been working as a
professional photographer since 2002," said Akash. "People
who live on the edges of society in Dhaka have inspired me throughout
my career. I grew up in a home far removed from my profession."
"Throughout my childhood, I did not have access to photographers,
their work or even a camera," adds Akash. "Photography
did not exist for me in theory or in practice. Then, a decade
ago, I found my father's old camera and my life took a different
turn. My fascination for the captured image was uncontainable
and overcame everything - even my inexperience."
"Not knowing what I was doing or why, I went everywhere shooting anything and everything that caught my attention. The only thing I was certain of were the subjects I photographed. I concentrated on people living on the edges of society because their faces, lives and living conditions held a particular fascination for me," says Akash.
"Throughout my photography, I want to show two things: The things that should be changed in a positive way and the things that should be appreciated," Akash surmises.
Akash's stunning and colorful images adorn the great hall at the CC4P; 25 photographs in all. Each image speaks to the lifestyles, struggles and accomplishments of people through his eyes.
"His work stood out from others' because of their clarity, color, emotion and strength," says Stacy Pearsall, tVCA judge and photojournalist. "Each image told a different story and held my attention. I wanted to see more. I believe everyone will enjoy his art as much as I have and shouldn't miss this beautiful exhibit."
On Jan. 12, 2009, at 7pm, the Founder of the Visual Cultural Awards (tVCA), Mikayla Mackaness, will introduce and officially launch the exhibit with the showing of the newly released documentary, An Unlikely Weapon.
For further information
check our SC Institutional Gallery listings, call the Center at
843/577-0647 or visit (www.ccforp.org). For info about tVCA, visit
(www.visualcultureawards.com).
Carolina Arts is published monthly by Shoestring Publishing Company, a subsidiary of PSMG, Inc. Copyright© 2009 by PSMG, Inc., which published Charleston Arts from July 1987 - Dec. 1994 and South Carolina Arts from Jan. 1995 - Dec. 1996. It also publishes Carolina Arts Online, Copyright© 2009 by PSMG, Inc. All rights reserved by PSMG, Inc. or by the authors of articles. Reproduction or use without written permission is strictly prohibited. Carolina Arts is available throughout North & South Carolina.