By Alesha Capone
Hoppers Crossing photographer Imran Abul Kashem has spent years taking photos of the trinkets, figurines and idols decorating cars.
Out of the thousands of images Kashem has captured, 12 will feature in an exhibition titled SAME/DIFFERENT at the Wyndham Cultural Centre.
The pictures will be displayed on a wall in the centre’s carpark until Thursday, November 15.
In addition, 22 of his photographs will be featured in a book to be provided to Wyndham’s libraries. The exhibition is being staged as part of the Wyndham council’s Place Patterns cultural development project, funded by Creative Victoria.
Kashem, who worked as a newspaper reporter in Bangladesh before moving to Australia, said SAME/DIFFERENT was his first public exhibition.
Kashem said he started photographing items on cars’ dashboards and rear-vision mirrors while out and about in Wyndham.
“I thought, ‘I could make a project from there and make a series’,” he said.
“It can show someone’s culture, the country they are from or what sport or hobby they like.
“As the project goes along, I learned a lot of things about the Australian culture and multiculturalism.
“My observation is that people also like to put their religions on display – not only Christianity, Muslim, Buddhism or Hinduism, I see all types of religions represented.
“Some people hang photos of their son or daughter, which is quite touching.”
Details: www.facebook.com/westendphotographymelbourne
