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74 photographers, 68 exhibitions and over 50 workshops — this is what the Xposure International Photography Festival held in Sharjah looked like. For the seventh year now, this event has been attracting leading artists to the United Arab Emirates.
«Transfer beauty to pictures»
Sheikh Sultan bin Ahmed Al Qasimi, Deputy Ruler of Sharjah and Chairman of the Regional Media Council, is behind the organization of the international photo rally. An accomplished and passionate photographer, Sheikh credits the success of the Xposure project with helping him hone his own craft. “I really learned a lot at the Xposure festival because every time I meet the participants I ask them about the work,” al-Qasimi admits. «There is a lot to learn here. My camera is always with me. With it, you try to translate the beauty that you see around you into pictures.»
Photography and science: visually about the complex
Famous Hungarian Photographer Esther Horvath presented a documentary series in the UAE about the largest scientific expedition in the Arctic, MOSAiC. Since 2015, she has been taking photographs in the region, collaborating with scientists and environmentalists. Horvath's goal is to achieve a better understanding of climate change.
“I had the feeling that I was photographing the landing on the moon,” the photographer shares his impressions. “This event has become an absolute source of inspiration for me. After all, when we think about landing, we do not present thousands of pages of scientific publications and reports, no, we present photographs Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin. It became my goal to translate complex scientific research into something visual that people can understand.»
«The same themes about humanity»
Brazilian photographer Gabriel Wikbold participates in the festival for the second year in a row. He believes that this meeting allows artists to better perceive other cultural realities.
«It's incredible for me to go all this way, to see how my work fits into a completely different cultural context! For example, I see works here on the same topics of humanity that I reveal myself, and they speak to audiences about the same things I talk to my audience in Brazil. It's exciting,» the Brazilian comments.
Pushing the boundaries of knowledge
Last year, festival attendance more than doubled times, the event has become one of the largest in the photo world. Xposure gives the floor to artists, and the parallel exhibition of the best specialized equipment — to manufacturers and retailers. The event is sponsored by Leica Camera Middle East. Its director, Asaad Abboud, calls the exhibition of innovations unique. «This is an inspiring gathering of like-minded photographers who seek to push the boundaries of their knowledge, creativity. This is a place where anyone can come to learn more,» he says.