Photojournalist highlights Mother's Day
Monira Morshed Munni with her photo essays at Goethe Institute
Fayza Haq

Monira Morhsed Munni, a reputed photographer, with two decades of work to her credit, has her on-going photography display at the Goethe Institute. Along with the photos, in colour, taken at Munich, where she spent two months, missing her children, are also seen the colour drawings by her six year-old daughter, Mehda, who passed her time in drawing, while longing for her mother. The exhibition is to celebrate Mother's Day. Here there is the superb delineation of people in Munich, with the setting of life in progressive part of Europe. Here are also the delicate drawings of a child who greatly treasure’s her mother's shelter and love.

The Daily Star: Why did you chose the theme of Mother's Day theme for your photo exhibit, and your child's drawings in "Deutschland, So nah -- so fern"?

Monira Morshed Munni: When I was at Munich on a two-month scholarship recently, I missed my daughter in particular, as she was then even younger. I specially missed my two children's spoken words. All the photos do not contain the main theme, as I've brought in nature and architecture of the city that I was residing in. While I examined a new country, I sorely missed my children. The difference between my daughter's drawings and my photos is that an artist can easily express his/her emotions on paper or canvas but the art of photography, I believe it is more difficult. Mehda has repeatedly brought in the mother-and-child theme repeatedly in her efforts.

TDS: What type of photos do you normally go in for: landscape, portrait or both? Are you experimental or simply presenting a theme?

MMM: I like people and so enjoy delineating them in my work. I've been trying to be experimental since my school days, when it was then mainly my passion, whereas now at 38, it's my profession, that brings in not only the bread and butter but also the jam. In 1986 I did my diploma with Manzoor Alam Beg. From then onwards I worked on my own, an as my husband Morshedul Islam, is a filmmaker (of "Chaka" fame), I was associated with his film unit, going outside Dhaka, taking still photographs. Since 1996, I've considered myself a pro.

TDS: Who are the people who have encouraged or influenced you most in your work ?

MMM: My mother, Salma Khanum, although she was a homemaker, originating from a village, gave me enormous encouragement. She was a self-educated woman who had progressive outlook. My three brothers also influenced me. This included one, Ehsan, who was involved in a film society; another, Siraj, who took part in social work as a student, and so I learnt to sympathise with people who suffer from natural calamities. The youngest brother urged me to work in his dark room in our childhood days. Next MA Beg showed me the way to "Drik" and "Pathshala", where Dr Shahidul Alam helped me graduate in photojournalism. I've worked for UNICEF and UNDP, and now I'm a programme officer at the GI, where Dr Markus Litz encouraged me to go overseas to broaden my horizon.

TDS: Don't you think Mother's Day is a bit of a fad?

MMM: I believe that we won't necessarily suffer if we borrow good elements of the western culture and Mother's Day is one such occasion.