‘Listening Beyond Sight’ explores art beyond vision

“Listening Beyond Sight”, a solo photography exhibition by artist Arif Abdullah, is underway at Alliance Française de Dhaka (AFD) in the capital’s Dhanmondi area.

Opened on Friday, the exhibition invites the audience to explore the relationship between art, perception and the diverse ways people experience and interpret the world.

The exhibition highlights Arif’s remarkable artistic journey, marked by creativity, determination and his ability to adapt to changing circumstances.

Arif developed a passion for photography during his school years. After completing his Higher Secondary Certificate (HSC) examination, he received formal training in photography while pursuing studies in Fine Arts. His first solo photography exhibition was held at Alliance Française de Chittagong in 2009.

However, his artistic journey took an unexpected turn when he was diagnosed with Choroideremia, a rare genetic condition causing progressive vision loss, during his third year of studies.

Despite the challenges, Arif continued exploring creative expression, gradually shifting his focus towards music and sound.

His longstanding interest in songwriting evolved into a passion for blues music, with the harmonica becoming an essential part of his musical career. Inspired by renowned blues musicians, he taught himself to play the instrument through online lessons and eventually established himself as a professional harmonica player in Bangladesh.

Over time, his musical exploration expanded to traditional wind instruments from different cultures, including creating and modifying instruments himself.

Today, Arif’s artistic practice encompasses photography, music, songwriting and sound design, reflecting his continuing search for new forms of expression.

“Listening Beyond Sight” brings together this journey of artistic exploration and resilience, inviting visitors to consider the possibilities of creativity beyond conventional ways of seeing. It reflects on how our relationship with art can evolve through changing circumstances, opening up different ways of sensing, interpreting and engaging with life. 

Speaking about his photographic approach, Arif said, “When we set colour aside, we begin to notice other visual elements more clearly - lines, shapes, shadows and textures. This allows us to look beyond colour and better understand the visual language of a scene.”

The exhibition celebrates artistic exploration, resilience and the transformative power of creativity.

Visitors can explore the exhibition daily from 3pm to 9pm till 20 October.