“So intense, so fragile, and so powerful”. This is how a Forbes feature describes the Paris exhibit showcasing Anne de Henning’s photos capturing the tumultuous days of Bangladesh’s independence struggle and its founding father Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.
In reference to the ongoing exhibition that brings to life never seen before photos from the battlefield and of the architect behind the country’s birth Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, Alexandra Fein, Executive Director of Asia Now, Paris Asian Art Fair was all praises and delivered the above-mentioned quote.
Forbes, an influential and acclaimed global magazine, published the in depth feature on the photo exhibition “Witnessing History in the Making: Photographs by Anne de Henning” that would remain on display until January 23, 2023 at Guimet Museum of Asian Art in Paris. The museum holds the largest collection of Asian art outside of Asia.
Pointing to the systematic manipulation of history following the gruesome assassination of Mujib along with most of his family members, the Forbes article found incredibly rare images of the Father of the Nation Sheikh Mujibur Rahman as a key highlight of the show.
“Most images of Mujib were destroyed during the coup of 1975,” the article reads.
“Especially uncommon” is how the article describes those images of the young country’s founder.
“These images were taken by de Henning upon her return to Bangladesh in 1972 when she went to witness Rahman’s address to the nation after the United States officially recognized Bangladesh as sovereign,” reads the write up.
Importantly, with focus on every aspect of the exhibition, the feature attributed the initiative as a marker of the country’s culture.
Reminding Bangladesh’s heroic battle against Pakistani Army in 1971 and the finest hours of the founding father Mujib in an independent nation, the article reads: “Tragic events certainly deserve all the attention they can get but a country cannot be defined without taking into account its cultural scene”.
Interacting with Forbes, de Henning commented, “I think it is important that in looking at the images the viewers feel the extent of the courage and determination with which the Bengali people were ready to fight to achieve independence for their country”.
The exhibition was earlier held in Dhaka and has been produced by Samdani Art Foundation and Centre for Research and Information(CRI).
Radwan Mujib Siddiq, grandson of Bangabandhu and a trustee of CRI, alongside others made a visit to the museum. A graduate from London School and Economics, Radwan is the publisher and architect behind ‘Mujib’, an autobiographical graphic novel on the Father of the Nation for young readers. He also played a key role in the making of “Hasina: A Daughter’s Tale”, a docudrama on his aunt Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and mother Sheikh Rehana.
Read more: Radwan Mujib visits Paris photo exhibit on Bangladesh’s birth, Bangabandhu
Importantly, the French photographer captured Bangabandhu giving a speech at the first Council Meeting of Awami League after the independence of Bangladesh. “I came specifically from Calcutta to photograph the event,” de Henning said. Although at the time she favoured shooting in black and white, de Henning chose to capture this event in colour because of the vibrant blue, white and red stripes of the shamiyana — ceremonial tent — that housed the event.
Rajeeb Samdani, who is a Co-Founder and Trustee of the Samdani Art Foundation, told Forbes, “We have failed to tell the story of our genocide. We have failed to tell the story of our long history of art and literature. We have failed to tell our history which involves a lot of sacrifice and trauma. Through all of this struggle we have become one of the top three largest garment exporters in the world and the second fastest growing economy in the world. So, our story today is one of growth, culture, and perseverance and this is the story we want to tell.”
Read more: Dhaka edition of World Press Photo Exhibition 2022 opens at Drik Gallery