An eye for beauty, hopes for fading Dal

FARZANA SYED. Dated: 10/16/2017 1:33:26 PM

Photo frames narrate tale of deteriorating lake

SRINAGAR, Oct 15: A three day photography exhibition by a Kashmiri photographer, Yasmin Hussain, was inaugurated here at Rajbagh locality of Srinagar on Sunday.
Through her images the photographer has depicted the beauty of the Dal Lake amidst its deteriorating condition through the myriad reflections in its water, where the existing beauty and the ugliness threatening it blend into each other. These blend mirror the hopes and dreams, the photographer-artist nurtures in her heart for the dying lake.
Titled as 'Hope Floats', the photographer said the aim of her photo exhibition was to portray the worsening scenario of Dal Lake.
The images reflected Dal Lake struggling for life.
"Our biggest asset by nature Dal Lake has been a source of inspiration for renowned writers, poets and artists since generations. However, when we see the condition of Dal Lake now it conveys that we are losing Dal each passing day. It seems that the Dal Lake is breathing its last unless and until concrete and immediate initiatives are adopted to save it," Yasmin said.
She said, "I had clicked these pictures before 2014 but I couldn't go for exhibition due to floods. In today's collection I have included the photographs, half images of what we have lost. My images include vibrant colours to infuse life into the dying Dal Lake."
Yasmin said she had dedicated today's exhibition to her mother who died a year ago. The photographer had also included a specific section of her mother's paintings in the exhibition.
“Photography has little to do with the things we see and everything to do with the way we see them,” she says. “Something changed in the way I see the place I have loved and photographed since I got my first camera,” she adds.
For her, Dal Lake was a mesmerizing subject and childhood memories of the lake continued to inspire her. “The Shikara's against the Zabarwan range, the sunsets over Hari Parbat casting a magical spell over the waters, the grand house boats with even grander interesting names like Jewel of the Crown, Chippendale are so deeply etched in my heart,” she says, adding, “I could go on and on about the beautiful images and memories etched in my mind since my childhood.”
"Today when I look at Dal Lake, its pathetic condition saddens me. There is pollution, filth floats over its waters. The size of Dal Lake is shrinking by every passing day. Its condition is enough for one to ponder upon why we can't save it. Dal Lake 'once known as jewel of Srinagar' is today struggling to survive," Yasmin said.
"I used to reach my college paddling across Dal. Its waters were crystal clear and its beauty was serene. Unfortunately the situation is completely dismal now," she revealed.
Talking about her work, Yasmin elaborates, “In my collection I bring to you half images of what remains of what we have lost. The vibrant colours infuse life into the dying Lake. My eyes seek out the beauty in parts and as a person behind the camera, I no longer view it as a whole but leave out what jars me. The reflections more striking and appealing as they blur out the ugliness.”
She captures the best of the Dal Lake through the multiple reflections in its water and prefers to call them half-images. The photography exhibition included half images of the remains of the lake showcasing the dying Dal Lake through photo frames of reflections in its water.
The exhibition was inaugurated by the minister for Information Technology, Youth services and Sports Imran Raza Ansari.
Imran said it was an appreciative initiative by the photographer towards saving Dal Lake. He said such initiatives were the need of the hour so that the pristine beauty of the Dal Lake was restored.
While inaugurating the exhibition Imran Ansari congratulated Yasmin for organising the exhibition with a theme to save Dal Lake.
DC Srinagar and Director Information and Public Relations were also present on the occasion.

 

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