Ismeth Raheem to deliver National Trust lecture

The National Trust lecture at 6.30 p.m. on Thursday, November 29, will be on “Ethnography and portraiture in photography 18401920” 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'.