XPosure 2024 : Africa unfiltered
With over 200 events, including 66 workshops, the eighth annual International Photography Festival, XPosure 2024, held from February 28 to March 5 in Sharjah, was a celebration of the art of photography, cinema, and other visual forms. It served as a showcase for Sharjah, considered the cultural capital of the UAE, and also as a platform for Africa to reclaim its identity through its photographers.
By Dounia Ben Mohamed in Sharjah
Inform, entertain, raise awareness, deceive, or manipulate… If there are a thousand and one ways to take a picture, there are just as many ways to interpret it. It all depends on the eye of the beholder and their intention. However, even in the era of technological revolution and AI, photography remains an art, sometimes a weapon, that fascinates.
This was the idea that permeated the eighth annual International Photography Festival, XPosure, held from February 28 to March 5 in Sharjah, considered the cultural capital of the United Arab Emirates. Featuring over 200 events, including 66 workshops, the platform invited guests from around the globe to discover today’s world through the lens of its photographers.
Conservation and awareness: « You cannot say you did not know »
A highlight of the event was the third edition of the Conservation Summit of the XPosure International Photography Festival, attended by Sheikh Sultan bin Ahmed Al Qasimi, Deputy Ruler of Sharjah and Chairman of the Sharjah Media Council (SMC). It emphasized the urgency of preserving our planet with compelling presentations, reminding everyone of their responsibility towards the environment.
« There is no Plan B because we do not have a Planet B. You can choose to look away, but you cannot say you did not know. » An epitaph that concluded a poignant video, blending images of the planet’s beauty with those of wars and natural disasters. A projection followed by a call to action. In the context of recent and ongoing events, the Festival highlighted war and the devastation it causes as one of the central themes of this 8th edition, notably paying tribute to hundreds of journalists and media professionals who tragically lost their lives while covering the war in Israel against Gaza. « In honor of the brave journalists who gave their lives to show us the truth. Their legacy is a call for a ceasefire for peace. »
Showcase for Sharjah
An event that also served as an opportunity to promote Sharjah, still in the shadow of Dubai but harboring great ambitions, including positioning itself as a globally renowned cultural capital. An ambition also shared by its photographers.
A visual odyssey, through the lens of 25 talented photographers – including names like Anoop Basheer and Rajesh Balakrishna Menon – captured the essence of Sharjah, both traditional and modern. The exhibited photographs are the result of the invitation of the #SeeSharjah campaign for anyone over 18 to share their photographs of Sharjah for the world to see.
A voice for Africa
An edition also marked by a strong presence of African photographers, presenting diverse works, but with the same intention: to redefine, through their images, an Africa without stereotypes.
Thus, the « Bamako Dream » pavilion, led by Igo Diarra, founder of the Bamako Biennale, saw artists from all corners of the continent come to exhibit their Africa, their representation of the world in the process. « We have challenged photographers to amplify this faint echo of Africa, » explains Igo Diarra. « This introspection goes beyond photography; it is a natural progression of engagement with artists and our immersion in contemporary discourse. » « Bamako Dream » invites viewers to dream with us and participate in the creation of a new narrative for Africa. »
Among these photographers, pioneers, representatives of the new generation of African photographers as well. « It is very important for African photographers to start looking at their own perspective first. It is not just a matter of photography, it is also a matter of sharing, of contributing to the continent’s growth, » says Mário Macilau from Mozambique. « Photography is a tool for documentation and it is also about perception, » continues Tamary Kudita from Zimbabwe. « Shaping these perceptions and being African storytellers is necessary in today’s world because there is a forgotten African beauty and elegance that is expressed through photography. So, bringing new voices brings new perspectives, with the help of technological tools in particular, which allow African narratives to shine. »
« This is my sixth participation in the annual Sharjah photography exhibition and I must say that this is the first time we have seen such a significant African participation, » observes Abdallah Sabo, a Nigerian author. « It is a platform for African creatives to share our own African stories, because I believe that photography is actually an integral part of the creative sector and that we can use it as a medium to share our own history, black history, African history, to the world and especially to the Middle East where, you know, not much is known about African narratives. »
Thus, XPosure 2024 fulfilled its mission. Namely, much more than just a photography festival, an invitation to see the world from different angles, a dive into the world of visual art. In addition to exhibitions and conferences, workshops offered participants the opportunity to master the art of photography, cinema, and other visual media.
