'Shahidul Alam: Truth to Power' Resources
Find audio clips and PDF downloads to complement our exhibition Shahidul Alam: Truth to Power, on view through July 11, 2021.
A Struggle for Democracy
Shahidul Alam first became drawn to photography through his participation in leftist social movements, and he began to see photojournalism as a form of activism.
Rejoicing at Ershad's Fall
Shahidul Alam describes the events of December 4, 1990, in Bangladesh, when a mass uprising led to the fall of President Ershad.
Photography as Tool: Kalpana's Warriors
Shahidul Alam describes the power of photography as a storytelling tool by describing his series on Kalpana Chakma, a young woman and activist who was abducted by the police.
Institution Builder
Shahidul Alam discusses the importance of training young photographers who can represent and depict their cultures from their own perspectives, as well as his efforts to found institutions that support this work.
Brahmaputra Diary
One of Shahidul Alam's long-term projects documents the different countries and cultures along the Brahmaputra River.
Sailboat Fishing for Ilish (Keraniganj and Now)
On August 5, 2018, Shahidul Alam was arrested for his public support of student protest and spent a year in jail at Keraniganj. While incarcerated, he instituted a beautification program in Keraniganj jail. To honor Alam, the prisoners painted a large-scale mural version of his photo Sailboat Fishing for Ilish.
Shahidul's Open Letter to the Prime Minister
Hear Shahidul Alam read aloud his open letter to the Prime Minister of Bangladesh. He wrote this letter on March 27, 1992, in response to the government's censorship of news media following the president of Ershad.
Searching for Kalpana Chakma: A Photo-Forensic Study by Shahidul Alam
Sketches and Reflections on the Models of Keraniganj Jail by Sofia Karim
Shahidul Alam: Truth to Power is organized by the Rubin Museum of Art, New York, NY, with additional works organized by Asia Society Texas for the Houston presentation. All photographs are by Shahidul Alam (b.1955, Dhaka, Bangladesh) and are courtesy of Shahidul Alam/Drik/Majority World unless otherwise noted.
Exhibitions at Asia Society Texas Center are presented by Nancy C. Allen and Leslie and Brad Bucher. Major support comes from Chinhui Juhn and Eddie Allen, The Brown Foundation, Inc., Houston Endowment, and the City of Houston through Houston Arts Alliance. Generous funding also provided by The Anchorage Foundation of Texas, The Clayton Fund, Texas Commission on the Arts, National Endowment for the Arts, Wortham Foundation, Inc., Agnes Hsu-Tang, Ph.D. and Oscar L. Tang, and Olive Jenney. United Airlines is our official airline partner. Funding is also provided through contributions from the Exhibitions Patron Circle, a dedicated group of individuals and organizations committed to bringing exceptional visual art to Asia Society Texas Center.
Presenting Sponsors
Nancy C. Allen
Leslie & Brad Bucher
Chinhui Juhn & Edward Allen
Official Airline Sponsor
Program Sponsors