Dubai Photo Exhibition Opens Its Doors to the Public

The exhibition in Dubai Design District presents more than 850 artworks including images from HH Sheikh Hamdanâ€™s personal collection, and is accompanied by talks, panel discussions and family activities

Dubai Photo Exhibitionâ€™s presentation of over 850 museum-quality photographs opened to the public on March 16, 2016.

Held under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Hamdan Bin Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the Crown Prince of Dubai, Dubai Photo Exhibition is organised by the Hamdan Bin Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum International Photography Award (HIPA) and supported by the World Photography Organisation (WPO).

The press conference, L-R: Scott Gray, HE Ali bin Thalith and Zelda Cheatle / Photo Â© Islamic Arts Magazine

The exhibition, which is free to enter, runs from March 16 â€“ 19 in a purpose-designed â€˜temporary museumâ€™ at the Dubai Design District (d3). Each of the 18 exhibits presents between 4 and 8 photographers, displaying 4 to 8 photographs of various sizes by each photographer; curated in a space of approximately 100 sqm per exhibit. The four pavilions are named: Galeries Sharb, Galleries Shamal, Galleries Sharq and Galleries Janub.

Artworks by 129 photographers from 23 countries have been selected by 18 renowned curators led by Head Curator, Zelda Cheatle. One of the largest photography exhibitions ever produced, Dubai Photo Exhibition spans from the earliest photographic experiments, to modern classics and innovative contemporary artworks. 18 renowned curators are: Alasdair Foster (Australia); Els Barents (Belgium and Holland); IatÃ£ Cannabrava (Brazil); Huang Yihuang (China); Hicham Khalidi (Morocco) and Ayman Lotfy Mahmoud (Egypt); Fannie Escoulen (France); Frank Wagner (Germany); Kincses KÃ¡roly (Hungary and Czech Republic); Devika Singh (India); Mariko Takeuchi (Japan); Sunhee KIM (Korea); Magnolia de la Garza (Mexico); Federica Angelucci (South Africa); Dr. Jorge Calado (Spain and Portugal); Jassim Al Awadhi (UAE); Martin Barnes (UK and Ireland); Natasha Egan (USA and Canada).

HE Ali bin Thalith, Zelda Cheatle and Scott Gray with the curators of Dubai Photo Exhibition / Photo Â© Islamic Arts Magazine

The members of local and international press as well as the prominent guests were present at the official opening of the Exhibition. Dr Amina Al Rostamani, the CEO of TECOM Business Parks, toured the exhibition accompanied by HE Ali bin Thalith.

Dr Amina Al Rostamani and HE Ali bin Thalith / Photo Â© Islamic Arts Magazine

L-R: Oscar Mitri, HE Ali bin Thalith and Dr Amina Al Rostamani / Photo Â© Islamic Arts Magazine

Photographs from HH Sheikh Hamdanâ€™s personal collection are featured in a special section of the exhibition. The photographs in the collection have been taken by renowned photographer Oscar Mitri.

Photographs from HH Sheikh Hamdanâ€™s personal collection / Photo Â© Islamic Arts Magazine

HE Ali bin Thalith, Dr Amina Al Rostamani and Oscar Mitri discussing the photographs from HH Sheikh Hamdanâ€™s personal collection / Photo Â© Islamic Arts Magazine

Visitors looking at the photographs from HH Sheikh Hamdanâ€™s personal collection / Photo Â© Islamic Arts Magazine

â€œHIPAâ€™s ambition has always been to share the best of international photography with the UAEâ€™s community - it is an exceptional art form,â€ says HE Ali bin Thalith, Secretary General, HIPA. â€œWe are proud and excited to present Dubai Photo Exhibition as one element of this overarching vision. An exhibition unprecedented in scale and scope, the exhibition will welcome diverse audiences who can enjoy Dubai Photo Forum 2, a series of talks and panel discussions, and participate in family activities on Photography Fun Street, alongside the beautiful artworks on display.â€

â€œDubai Photo Exhibition has drawn together some of the worldâ€™s most experienced and highly regarded photography curators,â€ says Head Curator Zelda Cheatle. â€œTheir inspired selections capture an element of each countryâ€™s artistic identity and photographic history, coming together in an exhibition that celebrates diverse global perspectives on the art of photography.â€

Scott Gray, Founder and CEO of the World Photography Organisation, commented â€œWe are delighted to be able to work on a project that brings together some of the most remarkable work over the last century. An exhibition with this global reach and of this magnitude is unique and an important statement for photography, not just in the exhibition itself, but also by bringing some of the most respected curators from around the world together under one roof.â€

Dubai Photo Exhibition has been created by HIPA to promote Dubai as a cultural hub, to cultivate artistic appreciation for photography as an art form, to foster dialogue, and to nurture photographic excellence through educational programs, events and workshops.

Highlights from the Dubai Photo Exhibition

The photographs by Hippolyze Bayard, Leon Gimpel and August Vacquerie, installation view / Photo Â© Islamic Arts Magazine

Dorothea Lange, Destitute pea pickers in California. Mother of seven children. Age thirty-two. Nipomo. California, 1936 / Photo Â© Islamic Arts Magazine

Installation view of the exhibition / Photo Â© Islamic Arts Magazine

Visitors at the exhibition / Photo Â© Islamic Arts Magazine

Dubai Photo Exhibition complements Dubaiâ€™s vision of becoming a highly creative, connected and cultural city, in line with Dubai 2021 plan and Expo 2020.