Listening Beyond Sight

Alliance Française de Dhaka is pleased to present Listening Beyond Sight, a solo photography exhibition by Arif Abdullah. The exhibition offers an opportunity to reflect on the relationship between art, perception and the many ways we experience the world.

Arif Abdullah’s artistic journey began with a passion for photography during his school years. After completing his Higher Secondary Certificate (HSC) examination, he pursued formal training in photography alongside his studies in Fine Arts. His first solo exhibition was held at Alliance Française de Chittagong in 2009. However, while studying in his third year, he was diagnosed with Choroideremia, a rare genetic condition that causes progressive vision loss. This profoundly changed the course of his life and artistic practice.

Rather than abandoning his creative pursuits, Arif gradually found new ways to express himself through sound. His long standing interest in songwriting developed into a deeper engagement with blues music, and the harmonica became a central part of his musical life. Inspired by blues musicians and self-taught through online lessons, he went on to establish himself as a professional harmonica player in Bangladesh. His practice later expanded to include traditional wind instruments from different cultures, as well as making and adapting instruments himself.

His artistic journey now spans photography, music, songwriting and sound design. Through these different forms of expression, Arif has explored how art can offer new perspectives, encourage personal freedom and create meaningful connections with the world around us.

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 photography practice, Arif Abdullah explains, “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.”