A bridge means so much more than a simple passage - it has memories and histories that connect people across cultures and time. They kindle the imagination of a poet and dreams of a lover. This image of the Mattancherry Bridge was shot by photographer Abul Kalam Azad in 2001. Constructed in 1940, this was the first bridge to connect mainland Cochin to Willingdon Island. Even after the construction of the new bridge in 2001, a few light vehicles are still allowed to pass through this elegant oldie. More than that, this stands as the icon of the Kochi Islands.
Mattancherry Bridge, 2001
Abul Kalam Azad is an Indian visual artist and photographer based in Kerala. His works are largely personal explorations and documentation of experiences, and memories of his native land, people, and their culture. They deal with issues of identity, ethics, micro/macro history, and eroticism. His works have exhibited Nationally/Internationally in reputed museums and galleries. He has received Charles Wallace Award in the year 1996 and recognized by the French government through a scholarship grant. He is a recipient of grants from the Government of India and India Foundation for the Arts (IFA). He is the founder of Ekalokam Trust for Photography and Editor-in-chief of PhotoMail Online magazine.