A Photography Exhibition by Photojournalist Hermoine Macura FACES OF THE MIDDLE EAST

Omani Ibadi bedouin, 2008, Muscat, Oman. © Hermoine Macura

Opened during Ramadan, the exhibition run during the Holy Month in Dubai at Emirates Towers and also at St Ethelburga’s centre for Peace and reconciliation in London, UK.

Through her pictures Hermoine aspires to help bridge the region’s cultural differences and promote understanding. She stresses, “Faces of the Middle East” goes beyond the national and political boundaries to bring together the people of the region through photographs. I have been told it is too utopian. However, my greatest desire is to see peace in the region. I hope this project helps to create dialogue and open people’s minds to understanding each other better.”

Hermoine, who hails from Australia and is a news anchor on Dubai One TV’s flagship show, Emirates News, sees the Middle East differently. “The Middle East is far more than a monolithic culture. There’s a lot more to the region than what we normally see or hear. In fact, it is a richly diverse area that has played a big role in shaping the world and continues to do so. My photographs are neither a definitive story nor a political statement. Rather these are regular people and faces you would find on the streets in cities across the region, that tell a different story. My subjects are ordinary people who have ordinary dreams and aspirations. And I think it’s important to focus on the common human thread of humanity to understand the region despite the massive political, economic and cultural awakening.”

Hermoine’s images have also been published in a book titled, Faces of the Middle East. Published and distributed by UAE based COVA group, it’s available at most good bookstores across the UAE and in Virgin stores across the Middle East.

Arab area: Emirati man with children, 2009, Global village, Dubai, UAE. © Hermoine Macura

Camel Festival, 2009, Sweihan, UAE. © Hermoine Macura

Name: Palestinian man praying outside Al Aqsa mosque, 2009, Jerusalem. © Hermoine Macura

Children getting ready for Eid, 2005, Al Buraimi, UAE. © Hermoine Macura

Hermoine Macura

Hermoine Macura is the first Australian female English speaking TV News Anchor in the Middle East, and also one of the area’s most recognized faces. Currently one of the main Anchors on Dubai One TV’s Emirates News, her portfolio includes the delivery of live-to-air news bulletins, frequently whilst being in the midst of breaking stories both locally and across the Middle East. Hermoine has also hosted a variety of other shows including the 3 hour live launch of the Burj Khalifa and Maak Ya Lebanon: which featured exclusive interviews with several key players in aid programs in Lebanon. The program was a part of a series that raised 55 Million Dirhams to help people caught in the conflict. Complementing her role as an anchor, Hermoine has also interviewed a variety of decision makers, and people in the know. From the Duchess of York to Hollywood Actor Michael Douglas, Hermoine has interviewed the most prominent personalities and government officials in the country. Born in Sydney, Australia, Hermoine began her career in Journalism over ten years ago as a graduate of the University of Wollongong where she was also trained in photography. Originally a Print Journalist, her works have been published in a wide variety of publications internationally.

Faces of the Middle East

‘Faces of the Middle East’ is a personal and intimate journey told through a collection of images by Hermoine Macura. Arriving in the Middle East soon after September 11th, when clips of the Taliban and Al Qaeda atrocities were flooding the news on a daily basis, Hermoine began a journey which allowed her to explore unique locations, cities and places unknown to many. Out of the swirl of smells, tastes and cultural intricacies of the region and its people, Hermoine’s work offers a fresh insight and another view to a region so often misunderstood and misrepresented in today’s globalizing culture.

“It would be impossible to count the number of people who offered me shelter, friendship and food on a whim. The kindness of strangers made me believe that there was still hope for bridging the gaps in the Arab-Israeli conflict and also the East-West equation.” (Hermoine Macura)

Hermoine’s journey across the region was marked by various situations where she was given the opportunity to experience the kindness of strangers. From the mountains of Iraq to the inner quarters of Jerusalem, these images are a small window into some of the situations she encountered, the special places she visited and the people who touched her life.