‘Resilience’ showcases pics from 15 nations

The global touring photo exhibition ‘Resilience - stories of women inspiring change’ is taking place at Drik Gallery. The exhibition has been organised by the Dutch embassy in Dhaka in partnership with Drik Picture Library.

This is a special exhibition that showcases a selection of stories, awarded in the World Press Photo Contests from 2000 to 2021, that highlight the resilience and challenges of women, girls and communities around the world.

The exhibition that started on November 25 conveys the commitment of the Netherlands to women’s rights and gender equality. Multiple voices through nine series and eight single photographs, documented by 17 photographers of 13 different nationalities of 15 countries, offer insights into issues including sexism, gender-based violence, sexual and reproductive rights, and access to equal empowerment opportunities.

The selection of stories explores how the representation of women and gender equality has evolved in the 21st century and how photojournalism has developed in the ways of portraying these issues.

Finding Freedom in the Water by Anna Boyiazis, shares the story of students from the Kijini Primary School who learn to swim and perform rescues in the Indian Ocean at Muyuni Beach, Zanzibar. Traditionally, girls in the Zanzibar Archipelago have been discouraged from learning how to swim, largely due to the absence of modest swimwear. The Panje Project teaches local women and girls swimming skills in an effort to reduce high rates of drowning.

Crying for Freedom by Forough Alaei documented female fans who are restricted from entering football stadiums in Iran and disguised themselves as men to enter stadiums and to advocate for women’s rights.

The Promise by Irina Werning, follows Antonella (12), who lives in Buenos Aires, Argentina, and vowed to cut her long hair only when she could resume in-person classes at school, which had been suspended as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic. Antonella said she was offering up her most precious treasure in exchange for getting her school life back. She cut her hair on 25 September 2021, on the weekend before she returned to classes.

Other photographers highlighted in this exhibition include Finbarr O’Reilly, Maika Elan, Catalina Martin-Chico, Pablo Tosco, Olivia Harris, Terrell Groggins, Jonathan Bachman, Heba Khamis, Daniel Berehulak, Robin Hammond, Diana Markosian, Jan Grarup, Magnus Wennman, and Fulvio Bugani.

The exhibition will be open for all at Drik Gallery till 10 December 2022 every day from 3 pm to 8 pm.