Promising step in photography

The solo venture is indeed nouveau. The works have soul pitch, imagination and dexterity. With his spate of repartee one can admire his work ad lib. Though both his coloured and black-and-white pictures are equally impressive, the simple and white ones are more delectable as they are more direct, imaginative and dramatic.

In the picture Grash one finds a hanging cigarette lighter with the smoke, cigarette and the tea-shop owner fazed out into the shape of a tree in the background. The bars of the tea-stall are like some jail-bars so that one can feel the claustrophobia of our present day existence with the ruination of our environment. This is obviously an anti-smoking campaign. There is then the photo of the co-existence of Muslim and Hindu hotels. Rumi finds the co-existence worth focusing on due to the prevailing Hindu-Muslim conflicts. This is entitled Shorbosthane Eki Ekjon, a well-known Lalon song, which refers to omnipresent God Many of Rumi's photos carry footnotes and titles inspired by Lalon song.

Shet Pathorer Thala has the picture of a discoloured and busted tin plate seen in between the leaves and branches of a tree, along with a piece of brick. By this Rumi wishes to bring in the irony of fate of the common existence in the developing countries. 'We are satisfied with little but such is our fate,' he comments about the photo shot at the Farm Gate Park.

An untitled black-and-white picture has been taken during one of the various stops at a railway station when Rumi and his cousins were making an inter-district train journey. He has added a footnote Ochena Jayga. Four crows are in focus, one seen flying away. It's amazing how such a common scene can be made to appear idyllic. The photo combines nostalgia with an optimistic outlook.

Tabij Tagay Badhbi Golay, yet another Lalon song, brings in the image of a young girl peering onto the camera, playing with a string of prayer beads, with an amulet on her arm. This reflects uncertainty and confusion and not quite comprehending her environment because of her tender age and the vicissitudes of life.

The coloured pictures are also promising and more pulsating with colours.

The exhibition remains open until September 25.