Friday, Jan 07, 2011
Gulf News
nation’s history told in slices of life through emiratis’ lenses
Dubai Old photographs from the private collection of Emiratis are throwing a new light into the history of the country.
Named “Thakerat Al Ax – Reflections of the Past,” the one-week exhibition was inaugurated by Shaikh Mansour Bin Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum as part of the Mansour Bin Mohammad Photography Award on Tuesday.
It is being held at gate 5 at the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC).
The black and white photographs — from the private collections of Emiratis — showcase the stages of life in the UAE in the decades of 50s, 60s, 70s and the beginning of 80s.
The organisers of the Mansour Bin Mohammad Photography Award came up with a novel concept to showcase 80 photographs from the private albums of Emiratis who captured their special moments with their family and friends.
It might never have occurred to them that one day their photographs would help document the history of the country and displayed at an exhibition and appreciated by Shaikh Mansour.
“The Mansour Bin Mohammad Photography Award makes sure to come up with new concepts that enhance the image of photography in the UAE to the full. And facilitates such artistic aspect to the all,” Jasem Al Awadi, the Secretary General of the Mansour Bin Mohammad Photography Award, told Gulf News.
“We highlight the stages of the country through the lens of its people. The process of exhibiting such old photos took a lot of time and effort to enhance their qualities and clarity overall, but the outcome as you see is very pleasing,” he said
Gulf News also met Shaikha Jasem, the first Emirati woman photographer in the country, who has never exhibited her photographic work before.
“Indeed, this is my first participation and I cannot express the happiness and joy I’m feeling,” said Jasem, aged 70.
“When I was 16 I used to buy bread from the baker and he used to wrap it in newspaper, and that is where the story begins.
“The newspaper contained pictures on its pages. My passion for photography began and I expressed it in the beginning by drawing the same pictures. However that didn’t satisfy my love for the art, then I decided to borrow a camera which was Agfa and I also then learnt how to develop my photos.”
Emirati Fatma Ebrahim, Director of Enigma management event, said: “I admire the idea, it’s really one of a kind, I never seen such attention paid to the photographs of private albums of local people. I feel as if am visiting my grandma house and browsing the pictures of the past”.
Pakistani Usman Khurshid, Property Management Executive at Hamptons International, said: “Today I’m accompanying my father who is one of the participant photographers who took a number of pictures of the visit of Queen Elizabeth to the UAE back in 1978 among other key pictures of the UAE’s history.” he said.
karen dias/Gulf News
Trip down memory lane
Visitors look at photographs at the Emirates Photography Award exhibition at Dubai International Financial Centre.
Nostalgia
A unique display
What: photography exhibition “Thakerat Al Ax — Reflections of the Past”.
Where: At Gate 5 at the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) for one week.
When: Started January 4.
We highlight the stages of the country through the lens of its people. The process of exhibiting such old photos took a lot of time and effort to enhance their qualities and clarity.”
Jasem Al Awadi
Mansour Bin Mohammad Photography Award
By Fatma Salem ?Staff Reporter
Gulf News 2011. All rights reserved.
