Your name
Farzana Akhtar
Place of birth
Khulna, Bangladesh
Place where you live now
Dhaka, Bangladesh
3 words to describe you
woman, photographer, artist
Why do you take pictures?
Every picture I take asks me, "Who am I and what is my role here on this earth?" This is my way of looking, this is my way of speaking, and this is how I see myself by taking pictures. 
Where do you get your inspiration?
Most of my art work centers on exploring feminine narratives in aesthetics, media and personal experiences. Of particular interest are how my chosen subjects’ or artistic mediums relate to and impact women’s issues and social equality. My concepts of femininity were being developed when I was getting in touch with women from every layer of my life, like my mother, my grandmother, cousins, and friends. These women who not only enlighten me but also their story of life, their suffering, fear, anxiety, the negativity, positivity always motivated me to do any project on women. I use photography as a means of self-expression to identify with hidden qualities of my characters to better understand my reality and to express my interpretation of the world around me. 
Who are your influences?
Nan Goldin, Frida Kahlo, Cindy Sherman, Sally Mann and many others. 
What determines the subject matter you choose?
When I choose any project to do, I think from my perspective of the situation. How I can relate with the thoughts of my subject. Which really helps to work on/with them.
What impact would you like your art to have?
I believe when we work on some serious issues like human rights, climate change etc, we need to continuously tell these stories and one day definitely the world will change. 
What artwork do you never get bored with?
any that represent the reality
Is there anything you want to add?
n/a

The City of Dust
Project statement

We are developing our country but still dealing with dust pollution. Bangladesh, one of the most densely populated countries in the world, has been struggling with air pollution for a long time. Dhaka, the country's capital, often finds its place among the most polluted cities in global indices. Brick kilns were identified as the single largest source of air pollution in Dhaka city, with 50 percent of the total pollution attributed to those. Air pollution is present both inside homes and outside and is responsible for the premature death of seven million people each year, including 600,000 children, according to the special UN rapporteur's environmental annual report. Every hour, 800 people are dying, many after years of suffering, from cancer, respiratory illnesses or heart disease directly caused by breathing polluted air.

Farzana Akhtar
@farzana6478