Sunday Times 2
Ismeth Raheem to deliver National Trust lecture
View(s):The National Trust lecture at 6.30 p.m. on Thursday, November 29, will be on “Ethnography and portraiture in photography 1840-1920” by Archt. Ismeth Raheem. The lecture will be held at the HNB Auditorium, 22nd Floor, HNB Towers, 479 T.B. Jayah Mawatha, Colombo 10.
Ethnography and Portraiture in Photography 1840-1920 is the title of an essay and on-going study for a publication on the History of Nineteenth century Photography of Sri Lanka. Since the beginning, photography has been a valuable tool for social scientists in the recording of ethnographical data. Portraiture in nineteenth century photography, on the other hand, also is an added source for such a study. The lecture examines the significance and relevance of still photography (1840-1920) in these two motifs, which were one of the most lucrative themes for a nineteenth century photographer operating in this country.
It also examines how photography provides interesting and valuable evidence of the past and how this data can be used successfully in a contemporary way. Ismeth Raheem, an Architect from the Royal Academy, Copenhagen, worked with Geoffrey Bawa prior to setting up his own architectural partnership. His publications include: ‘Archaeology and Photography: the early years 1868 to 1870′ and ‘Images of British Ceylon: Nineteenth Century Photography of Sri Lanka’.