A different look on Bangladesh

Yann Arthus-Bertrand Hlne Binet Eric Chenal Kashef Chowdhury

Wasama Doja

Jenny Fischbach

Wendell Phillips

Friendship Logo Final Date Created : May 16 2012 Time : 9:38

Paolo Pellizzari

Gregory Wait
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A different look on Bangladesh Exhibition: 2.5. - 24.5.14 at Galerie Clairefontaine

Exhibition of works by Yann Arthus-Bertrand, Hlne Binet, Eric Chenal, Kashef Chowdhury, Wasama Doja, Jenny Fischbach, Paolo Pellizzari, Wendell Phillips and Gregory Wait.
Friendship Logo Final Date Created : May 16 2012 Time : 9:38

Since it started operating in Bangladesh in 2002 bringing health care, dignity and hope to some of the most marginalised communities living in remote islands on Brahmaputra River Friendship has attracted many photographers from all over the world, who have documented the NGOs initiatives and shared the environment it is working in. The high quality of the photographers participating in this project reects the excellence towards which the organisation strives in its work and its commitment to the fundamental values of dignity, self-respect, compassion and solidarity. A different look on Bangladesh: while by no means turning a blind eye on the difculties faced by many of those living in one of the poorest countries in the world, this exhibition, through the variety of perspectives which it offers different looks on Bangladesh - provides an insight which goes beyond what we are used to see and hear of the country, mostly when disaster strikes, be it natural, like cyclones and oods, or manmade, like garment industry res or collapses. Impressive landscapes, busy people, beautiful children, outstanding architecture for the common good, health care for those who never even thought of it and charismatic leadership , all that is an integral part of the Bangladesh which Friendship, at its modest level, contributes to bring forward. Marc Elvinger, Friendship Luxembourg

Some people have an aura around them which inspires others to give their best: when Marc brought Runa Khan to my gallery some years ago to see an exhibition of James Nachtweys photographs, it was obvious by her reaction and her comments that she was deeply moved, and that she was determined to do everything in her power to change the situation of people in need, such as were portrayed in these pictures. Now, 10 years after our rst encounter, Runa has gathered around her a number of todays most talented photographers, whose individual work on Bangladesh allows us to view a whole different spectrum of the true problems of Bangladesh and its inhabitants. Visitors of the exhibition are welcome to discover new perspectives of this country by virtually travelling on the river Brahmaputra by boat, looking out on the shore below water level, witnessing treatments of patients on the Floating Hospitals, or taking a birds view on the river deltas watching peasants at work... Many of the photographs are either breathtakingly beautiful, or hopelessly sad, but they all speak to us intensely through the eyes of compassion. Walking through the exhibition, one gets a feeling of befriending these people whose lives are so much more threatened by the elements of nature than ours. Thank you, Runa and Marc, for your tireless work, and all these years of FRIENDSHIP! Marita Ruiter, Director, Galerie Clairefontaine

I want to thank the artists who are contributing to this exhibition from the depth of my heart. Aside from being outstanding photographers, as Marc Elvinger rightly points out, their high calibre reects the excellence towards which Friendship strives for in its work every day. I am lucky to call most of them my friends. For me, they truly form an integral part of Friendships journey. They have brought to life the one integral aspect of living that Friendship strives to bring to each and every individual whose lives we touch Dignity and Hope. Today, they are offering and sharing their art to the broader public for the benet of Friendship. It is so Friendship can be better known and understood. We hope that those of you who come and see their art, can also be touched with the essence and spirit of the Friendships work. I want to thank all the organisers with the offers of pro bono services, space and time. This kindness and generosity touches me deeply. My deepest thanks and gratitude to all those who have made this exhibition possible. Runa Khan, Founder and Executive Director, Friendship

Yann Arthus-Bertrand

Yann Arthus-Bertrand, Pirogues sur la rivire Buriganga Dhaka, rgion de Dhaka, Bangladesh, 2010
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Yann Arthus-Bertrand, Pirogue sur la rivire Jamuna (Brahmapoutre) prs de Gaibandha, Bangladesh, 2011
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Yann Arthus-Bertrand, Repiquage du riz dans le lit du euve Bramahpoutre, prs de Gaibanda, Bangladesh, 2011
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Yann Arthus-Bertrand, Pompe dans une rizire prs de Dhaka, rgion de Dhaka, Bangladesh, 2010
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Yann Arthus-Bertrand, Rcolte des choux-eurs prs de Dhaka, rgion de Dhaka, Bangladesh, 2010
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Yann Arthus-Bertrand, Maison inonde au sud de Dhaka, Bangladesh, 1999

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Yann Arthus-Bertrand, Filet de pche dans la rgion de Dhaka, Bangladesh, 2010

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Hlne Binet

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Hlne Binet, Build Topography and Agrarian Landscape, 2014

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Hlne Binet, Untitled, 2014

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Hlne Binet, Pools, Pavilions and Courtyards, 2014

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Hlne Binet, Dormitory, 2014

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Hlne Binet, Entry Steps, 2014

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Hlne Binet, An Internal Landscape of Courtyards and Shadows, 2014

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Eric Chenal

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Eric Chenal, From the series ows, 2012

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Eric Chenal, From the series ows, 2012

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Eric Chenal, From the series ows, 2012

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Eric Chenal, From the series ows, 2012

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Eric Chenal, From the series ows, 2012

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Eric Chenal, From the series ows, 2012

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Kashef Chowdhury

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Kashef Chowdhury, From the series The Night Of November Fifteen, 2007
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Kashef Chowdhury, From the series The Night Of November Fifteen, 2007
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Kashef Chowdhury, From the series The Night Of November Fifteen, 2007
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Kashef Chowdhury, From the series The Night Of November Fifteen, 2007
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Kashef Chowdhury, From the series The Night Of November Fifteen, 2007
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Kashef Chowdhury, From the series The Night Of November Fifteen, 2007
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Kashef Chowdhury, From the series The Night Of November Fifteen, 2007
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Wasama Doja

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Wasama Doja, Colors of Education, 2012

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Wasama Doja, Green Bliss, 2010

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Wasama Doja, Ghost of the Golden Mist, 2009

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Wasama Doja, Lean on, 2010

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Wasama Doja, Cloudy Crossing, 2011

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Wasama Doja, Awaiting Sight, 2009 | Embrace, 2009

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Wasama Doja, The Dive, 2011

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Jenny Fischbach

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Jenny Fischbach, Untitled, 2010

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Jenny Fischbach, Untitled, 2010

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Jenny Fischbach, Untitled, 2010

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Jenny Fischbach, Untitled, 2010

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Jenny Fischbach, Untitled, 2010

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Jenny Fischbach, Untitled, 2010

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Jenny Fischbach, Untitled, 2010

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Paolo Pellizzari

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Paolo Pellizzari, Chars Brahmaputra Bangladesh, Dry Season, 2013

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Paolo Pellizzari, Chars Brahmaputra Bangladesh, Friendship School Parade, 2013

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Paolo Pellizzari, Chars Brahmaputra Bangladesh, Runa Khan Lecture, 2013

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Paolo Pellizzari, Chars Brahmaputra Bangladesh, Planting rice, 2013

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Paolo Pellizzari, Chars Brahmaputra Bangladesh, Hospital Boat, 2013

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Paolo Pellizzari, Chars Brahmaputra Bangladesh, Runa Khan entering the boat, 2013
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Wendell Phillips

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Wendell Phillips, Friendship Window, 2003

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Wendell Phillips, Patient Carry, 2003

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Wendell Phillips, Waiting for Attention, 2003

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Wendell Phillips, Runa Khan, 2003

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Wendell Phillips, Wound Care, 2003

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Gregory Wait

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Gregory Wait, Sailing boat (Fleuve Pabna (Ganga)), 2008

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Gregory Wait, Unloading boat 3, 2007

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Gregory Wait, Street boy (Dhaka), 2007

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Gregory Wait, Smiling village boy, 2007 | Beggar 1 (Farmgate, Dhaka), 2007 | Veiled ladies (Dhaka), 2007 | Portrait woman 3, 2007
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Gregory Wait, Santal children (Dinajpur), 2008

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Gregory Wait, Dhaka port, 2007

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Gregory Wait, Lady on river bank (Hatia) 2008

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The photographers: Yann Arthus-Bertrand

N en 1946, Yann Arthus-Bertrand sest toujours passionn pour le monde animal et les espaces naturels. trente ans, il part au Kenya accompagn de son pouse Anne avec qui il ralise une tude sur le comportement dune famille de lions dans la rserve du Massa Mara, qui durera 3 ans. Trs vite, il utilise lappareil photo pour consigner ses observations en complment de lcriture. Yann devient photographe de grand reportage et collabore des journaux comme National Geographic, Go, Life, Paris Match, Figaro Magazine etc. A loccasion de la premire confrence de Rio en 1992, Yann Arthus-Bertrand dcide de se lancer dans un grand projet photographique pour lan 2000 sur ltat du monde et de ses habitants : cest La Terre Vue Du Ciel. Prolongeant son engagement pour la cause environnementale, le photographe cre la fondation GoodPlanet. Au sein de la fondation, Yann dveloppe le projet 6 milliards dAutres, devenu le 31 octobre 7 milliards dAutres. Son principe est simple : aller la rencontre des 7 milliards dhabitants de la plante et recueillir leurs tmoignages. ce jour plus de 6000 tmoignages ont t lms dans 84 pays. Du pcheur brsilien la boutiquire chinoise, de lartiste allemande lagriculteur afghan, tous ont rpondu au mme questionnaire sur leurs peurs, leurs rves, leurs preuves, leurs espoirs: une quarantaine de
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questions essentielles permettent ainsi de dcouvrir ce qui nous spare et ce qui nous lie. Le travail de Yann Arthus-Bertrand tmoigne de sa volont dveiller une conscience collective et responsable. Dans cette optique de sensibilisation du plus grand nombre. Ce que je cherche travers mon travail, cest de faire connaitre des personnes dont laction sort de lordinaire et qui grce leur enthousiasme et leur nergie cratrice, russissent faire avancer le monde dans la bonne direction, Runa Khan et Yves Marre font partie de ces gens-l. Lamour en mouvement, celui qui fait que plus on donne, plus on reoit, le dpassement de soi dans laction et un charisme extraordinaire qui mobilise les nergies autour delle, telles sont quelquesunes des qualits qui ont permis Runa Khan de faire de Friendship, en lespace de dix ans, une organisation qui force ladmiration. Ce sont de tels exemples qui nous font garder espoir et qui sont source dinspiration dans un monde qui, par ailleurs, nous parait si souvent la drive. (from ten year journey through Friendship)

and soon developed an interest in architetural photography. Over a period of twenty-ve years Hlne Binet has photographed both contemporary and historical architecture. Her list of clients include architects Raoul Bunschoten, Caruso St John, Zaha Hadid, Daniel Libeskind, Studio Mumbai, Peter Zumthor and many others. While following the work of contemporary architects often from construction through completion Hlne Binet has also photographed the works of past architects as Alvar Aalto, Geoffrey Bawa, Le Corbusier, Sverre Fehn, John Hejduk, Sigurd Lewerentz, Andrea Palladio and Dimitris Pikionis. More recently, Hlne Binet has started to direct her attention to landscape photography, wherein she transposes key concerns of her architectural photography. Hlne Binets work has been published in a wide range of books, and is shown in both national and international exhibitions. In the end, what I do is about feeling. Certain buildings, certain architects generate a strong emotion. It is hard to explain, but, if am I lucky, I can nd this feeling, these emotions, slowly and quietly in the darkroom when my pictures come to light. (http://www.theguardian.com/ culture/2002/apr/15/artsfeatures)

Hlne Binet
Hlne Binet was born in 1959 in Sorengo and is of both Swiss and French background. She currently lives in London with her husband Raoul Bunschoten and their two children, Izaak and Saskia. She studied photography at the Instituto Europeo di Design in Rome, where she grew up,

Eric Chenal
N en 1966 Thionville (France). Aprs diffrents mtiers exercs dans le domaine des ressources humaines, il intgre lagence Blitz en 2002. Il

rpond des commandes dans les domaines du portrait, du reportage et de la photographie darchitecture. A partir de 2009 ses recherches personnelles sorientent autour de la question de lidentit de soi. saisons passes de ce printemps peine dire le vertige de laccueil improbable point dabri, rien ne resiste le coeur transperc lore des sables visite lintrieur de tes terres et accepte le prsent sans cesse offert et maintenant dans lattente du vieil homme enn rassembl je suis

phasis on climate, materials and context - both natural and human. Projects in the studio are given extended time for research so as to reach a level of innovation and original expression. Works range from conversion of ship and low cost raised settlements in chars to training centre, mosque, art gallery, museum, residences and multi-family housing to corporate head ofces. Chowdhury was twice nalist in the Aga Khan Award for Architecture and has won rst prize in Architectural Reviews AR+D Emerging Architecture Award 2012. Kashef Chowdhury takes an active interest in art and in 2004 presented a lecture series Aspects of Contemporary Art in Germany at the Goethe Institut, Dhaka. He has worked as a professional photographer and has held seven solo exhibitions. He has designed and published three books: Around Dhaka, 2004; Plot Number Fifty Six, 2009 and The Night of Fifteen November, 2011 - a photographic and recorded account of some survivors of the cyclone SIDR in the coastal areas of Bangladesh. The night of 15 November 2007 saw one of the strongest cyclones in recent times make land fall in the southern part of Bangladesh reaching peak winds of 260 km/h (160 mph), causing the loss of at least 3447 human lives, innumerable animal lives and necessitating evacuations in epic proportions. From 18 November onwards, Kashef Chowdhury, Anup Kumar Basak, Mohammad Jewel Dewan and Mohammad Munir with boatman Abdul Haq reached some of the

most affected areas with relief from own funds. (from the book the night of fteen November two thousand seven)

Wasama Doja
Syed Wasama Doja was born in 1981 in Dhaka, Bangladesh. In 1998 he started working in a part time capacity in a tourism company where he got the chance to explore Bangladesh in detail. Because of his extensive knowledge of the country, he was sought after as a xer for various documentary companies. Over the years his portfolio expanded to working with various broadcasters such as the BBC, National Geographic, Thalassa, Ushuaia and Goodplanet. His passion for photography grew as he became acquainted with the various methodologies and areas of work. This prompted him to nally save up and buy his own camera and teach himself photography. The quality and intensity of his photos changed dramatically in 2010 when Yann Arthus Bertrand gave him one of his own cameras. Wasama derives inspiration from people and the expressions illuminating their faces. He likes capturing natural moments and indulges in street photography. Being a part of Friendship from the very beginning has given immense pride and joy. Seeing the work that is being done in such areas, with hardly any access, is a source of magnicent inspiration. The work and the drive behind it shows that we can truly strive towards the im79

Kashef Chowdhury
Kashef Chowdhury Kashef Mahboob Chowdhury was born in Dhaka, growing up in Bangladesh and the Middle East before graduating in architecture from the Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET) in 1995. In 2006, he attended the Glenn Murcutt Masterclass in Sydney. After working with architect Uttam Kumar Saha, he established the practice URBANA in partnership in 1995 and from 2004 has continued as the sole Principal of the rm. Kashef Chowdhury has a studio based practice whose works nd root in history with strong em-

The photographers:
possible, and regardless of all the readily held beliefs, one is capable of achieving anything one sets his mind to. composed in such a way that makes his work distinctive among others. He studied Architecture at Universit catholique de Louvain and Business at INSEAD (Fontainebleau). His work has been shown in Museums and Art Galleries around the world and has been published regularly in newspapers and magazines including Libration, Lequipe, La Repubblica, and Newsweek. In 2001, he had a solo exhibition at the Museum of Modern art in Hasselt Belgium. Between 2003 and 2008 Paolo exhibited at Couleur Caf and had an exhibition at the Queen Galleries in Brussels for his work entitled One Billion Indians. He also exhibited at Young Gallery in Brussels, Husson Gallery, le Muse de la photographie in Charleroi (Belgium) and the Chteau dEau in Toulouse (France). In 2010 he produced a book with his body of work called The Broad Way and exhibited the content at the Italian Pavilion at the World Expo in Shanghai. His work is regularly displayed in galleries in Turin, Milan, Paris and Brussels and is distributed by Vu in Paris and Contact Press Images in New York. Paolo Pellizzari is a guest professor at La Cambre in Brussels ( Ecole Nationale dArt) and at the International Center of Photography in New York where he teaches Author photography. Runa Khan combines local knowledge with international upbringing which gives her this incredible efciency. She does not compromise, has non negotiable values that keeps her strong. She is a friend for many, exclusive to all. Her Team with Friendship is dedicated to help the poor, increase humanity and love among humans with no bias to religion , upbringing and sex. She is an example to me, a privilege. She touches extrattitude, this quality of dedicated persons working to improve humanity for good.

Jenny Fischbach
Aprs avoir fait des tudes de photographie lEcole Suprieure des Arts Saint Luc de Lige et lobtention dun Master 2 en Arts plastiques lUniversit dAix-en-Provence, Jenny Fischbach est aujourdhui journaliste et productrice de lmission culturelle diffuse sur RTL Luxembourg. La photographie est pour elle une grande source dinspiration et elle continue de lanimer au quotidien. Les enfants sont des enfants, peu importe ou il vivent dans le monde. Ils ont le mme regard, la mme curiosit et la mme insouciance. Venir au monde au Luxembourg ou Dhaka, nous ne le choisissons pas. Nous faisons du mieux que nous pouvons pour avancer, pour grandir, avec lespoir de croiser un jour les bonnes personnes qui nous apporteront de laide et du soutien.

Wendell Phillips
Vancouver based Wendell Phillips began his photojournalism career as a staff news photographer in 1981. Hes since earned over 30 Picture of the Year awards in categories of news, feature, sports, pictorial and photo essay. He was voted Canadas News Photographer of the Year in 1988 and nominated Canadian Photojournalist of the Year in 2007 and 2009. Phillips won a gold medal at the National Magazine Awards in Toronto in 2007 for best magazine photography in Canada that year and a Silver Medal the following year in the words and picture category. In 2009, he was the recipient of the International Understanding Through Photography Award by the Photographic Society of America and also received merit award from the Art Directors Club 87th annual awards in New York City. Phillips work has been exhibited at United Nations in New York City in 2006, and this year, at the Center of Photographic Arts at Carmel, California. After several years as a staff photographer in television news and newspapers, Phil-

Paolo Pellizzari
Paolo Pellizzari was born on February 7, 1956. His photographic work nds its roots in the German School of photography. His panoramic pictures feature crowds and human landscapes
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lips makes his living with international media and global photo departments. His images have appeared in over a hundred publications and networks that include the New York Times, BBC World News, ABC News, Washington Post, National Geographic, South China Morning Post, The Atlantic, McLeans, National Post, and Time Magazine. The role and responsibility of the photojournalist has been scrutinized and for just cause. There are those who believe reportage of human suffering around insalubrious environments has become for some, a fast grab for dramatic images under the guise of social conscience. For self-preservation, some journalists cover human suffering as dispassionate observers while others make themselves more vulnerable when transcribing the story. I have seen words and pictures inuence positive social change, prod our collective conscience, but also cause demonstrable grief (by Wendell Phillips for Okanagan Life Magazine)

with are awesome. What has always amazed me and what I have always admired about the people of this little country is their ingenuity and creativity in nding solutions to the immense problems that they are confronted with, be it climatic, demographic, political or the enormous burden of illiteracy. Even after nearly 40 years travelling through this country, these warm and friendly (and curious) people still astonish me. (Gregory Wait) Quand on amasse environ 150 millions de personnes dans 140.000 kilomtres carrs de terre, les comptes sont faciles : cela fait 1071 personnes par kilomtre carr. Le Bangladesh possde une des densit humaine la plus leve du monde. Il y a tout juste 30 ans, les villes du Bangladesh ntaient que des agglomrations dallure provinciale, mais les populations continuant crotre, les centres urbains ont grandi un rythme incontrlable. La capitale Dhaka, abrite prsent plus de 12 millions dhabitants. Les consquences de lexpansion urbaine non planies, telles que la pollution, les embouteillages ou le traitement des dchets sont atterrantes. Aujourdhui, Dhaka est considre comme la ville la moins vivable du monde et lon estime que sa population va plus que doubler dans les 20 annes venir. Ces immenses problmes ne se limitent pas uniquement Dhaka, tous les principaux centres urbains souffrent du mme manque de prvoyance

et de gestion. Comme dans les campagnes, la majorit des citadins pauvres vivent avec moins d1 Euro par jour, leurs preuves et souffrances au quotidien sont insupportables. Mme si des progrs ont t accomplis, trop denfants sont toujours privs dducation, et lanalphabtisme demeure le principal obstacle, alinant la majorit de cette population la pauvret et la vie misrable quils doivent endurer.

Gregory Wait
I started working as a photographer in Bangladesh in 1975. I was then a very young photographer and Bangladesh, a very young country. I learnt immediately that I, an Australian, came from the lucky country and that Bangladesh was the unlucky country. The problems that Bangladesh, then, today and in the future, have to deal

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Friendship Logo Final Date Created : May 16 2012 Time : 9:38

Starting its journey with a oating hospital in 2002, Friendship presently runs 5 integrated programmes: Health; Education and Good Governance; Sustainable Economic Development; Disaster Management and Infrastructure Development; Cultural Preservation. This integrated development model of Friendship facilitates the overall improvement of the life of Friendship beneciaries, allowing them to rise from poverty with self-assurance and dignity. As of today, Friendship serves more than 150.000 beneciaries in health per month and it operates 75 primary schools as well as 63 literacy centres for adults and adolescents hosting a total of more than 5.500 learners. The Sustainable Economic Development Program presently involves 5.200 direct beneciaries per year while expanding rapidly. Over the ten years of the organizations existence, 3.5 million people have beneted from its disaster relief aid and presently a yearly 80.000 persons are involved in its community managed disaster preparedness programme. Friendship has a staff of more than 600 and, besides its Dhaka headquarters, operates 16 eld ofces. The organization is represented for fundraising purposes by charitable entities in ve countries: Luxembourg, the Netherlands, France, United Kingdom and Germany.

Credits: Texts and photos as provided by the participants 2014 Friendship, Luxembourg, and authors 2014 the photographers for the images Acknowledgments: Ce catalogue a t imprim grce au soutien de Victor Buck Services.

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 Yann Arthus-Bertrand

Hlne Binet

Eric Chenal

Kashef Chowdhury

Wasama Doja

Jenny Fischbach

Wendell Phillips

Friendship Logo Final Date Created : May 16 2012 Time : 9:38

Paolo Pellizzari
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Gregory Wait