Profile: Akash and Symbolism


homeless 02 Profile: Akash and Symbolism by photographer Josh JonesG M B Akash
from Homeless people in Germany

‘When I met the first homeless here,’ writes photographer G M B Akash on his arrival in Germany, ‘I was confused (. . .) Why are there homeless in one of the richest countries of the world?’

Bangladeshi photographer G M B Akash gives honest descriptions of poverty that escape cliché – they would never be seen heading a charity appeal. Yet he also infuses his images with symbolic power through careful composition.

In image from Homeless people in Germany, the incongruity of a homeless person, curled foetal, and the Nike logo, clean and indifferent, echos Akash’s amazement that there should be homeless in the world’s richest nations.

Meanwhile, in his study of people making a living out of the dump-yards of Bangladesh, black crows hang like symbols of death over the impoverished searchers.

dump 07 Profile: Akash and Symbolism by photographer Josh JonesG M B Akash
from Life at the Dump Yard

Akash can venture into unpleasant, unglamourous, and dangerous situations that most people would rather not know about, let alone visit. He can do this and bring back photographs that are both beautiful and haunting, that appease our eyes while challenging our heart.

tr 07 Profile: Akash and Symbolism by photographer Josh JonesG M B Akash
from Take Me Home

3 Comments

  1. Tanmay Shahriar
    Posted 27 Mar ’10 at 7:24 am | Permalink

    Boss, only 18 ta chhobi diye’ito mon kere nilen!!! ki r comment korbo??

  2. Tanmay Shahriar
    Posted 29 Mar ’10 at 9:26 am | Permalink

    Hi Josh, Actually I wrote it for Akash, I wrote, ” only 18 of your pictures in facebook has touched deep inside my heart. So what else should I comment!!” Anyway Josh, thanks for your friends request. I’m feeling honored to get you as a friend.

  3. Posted 29 Mar ’10 at 2:25 pm | Permalink

    Thanks for translating :)
    A friend of Akash is a friend of mine!

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