SHARJAH: The seventh Xposure International Photography Festival, set to take place in the UAE next month, has been billed as the biggest and best yet.
Organized by the Sharjah Government Media Bureau, the event will take place at the Expo Center Sharjah from Feb. 9 to 15 and will feature 74 world-renowned photographers and a display of 1,794 prints, reported the Emirates News Agency on Tuesday.
The agenda includes 68 solo and group exhibitions, 41 talks, 63 workshops and focus groups, 50 portfolio reviews, a conservation summit, a photo fair, an equipment trade show, book signings, and an awards ceremony.
Last year’s event saw a 125 percent increase in public attendance, making Xposure one of the most significant photography fairs in the world.
The festival is a premier destination for professionals and hobbyists alike, catering to various industries and offering a chance to learn, network, and be inspired.
Photography is used in many sectors including by architects, film directors, advertising executives, and artists, as well as being popular among amateurs and mobile phone users.
Attended by top international photographers and industry experts, the festival creates a community of art enthusiasts and professionals and provides opportunities for them to network and learn from one another.
Visitors will be invited to explore new worlds through the lenses of celebrated photographers and experience new perspectives.
Tariq Saeed Allay, director general of the Sharjah Government Media Bureau, said: “At Xposure, we have an enduring belief in the power of photography to impact the lives of people and the world around us. We highlight the power and role of photography in forging connections and expanding perspectives.
“Over the years, Xposure has gained a formidable reputation as a comprehensive and global platform for photography and film experts to share their experiences, stimulate the viewers’ consciousness, and leave a lasting impression on their peers.”
He noted that the festival offered not only galleries and exhibitions, but education and inspiration in a celebration of creativity and visual storytelling.
“At Xposure, creativity is valued highly along with the unique stories photographers have to share. We strive to create a space where attendees can learn, be inspired, and be challenged by the exceptional visual storytelling of renowned artists.
“Our goal is to support the growth and development of talent in the region and to provide a platform for education, networking, and creativity,” he added.
This year’s festival will culminate in awards ceremonies recognizing the best in photography and film at the International Photography and Film Awards, and The Independent and Freelance Photojournalist Awards, which have received more than 17,000 submissions.
Xposure 2023 brings 74 of world’s best photographers together in Sharjah
https://arab.news/w8278
Xposure 2023 brings 74 of world’s best photographers together in Sharjah
- Organized by Sharjah Government Media Bureau festival will take place at Expo Center Sharjah Feb. 9-15
- Event will feature top international photographers, exhibition of 1,794 prints
Cambodia takes back looted historic artifacts handled by British art dealer
- The objects were returned under a 2020 agreement between the Ministry of Culture and Fine Arts and the family of the late Douglas Latchford, a British art collector and dealer who allegedly had the items smuggled out of Cambodia
PHNOM PENH, Cambodia: Cambodian officials on Friday received more than six dozen historic artifacts described as part of the country’s cultural heritage that had been looted during decades of war and instability.
At a ceremony attended by Deputy Prime Minister Hun Many, the 74 items were unveiled at the National Museum in Phnom Penh after their repatriation from the United Kingdom.
The objects were returned under a 2020 agreement between the Ministry of Culture and Fine Arts and the family of the late Douglas Latchford, a British art collector and dealer who allegedly had the items smuggled out of Cambodia.
“This substantial restitution represents one of the most important returns of Khmer cultural heritage in recent years, following major repatriations in 2021 and 2023 from the same collection,” the Culture Ministry said in a statement. “It marks a significant step forward in Cambodia’s continued efforts to recover, preserve, and restore its ancestral legacy for future generations.”
The artifacts were described as dating from the pre-Angkorian period through the height of the Angkor Empire, including “monumental sandstone sculptures, refined bronze works, and significant ritual objects.” The Angkor Empire, which extended from the ninth to the 15th century, is best known for the Angkor Wat archaeological site, the nation’s biggest tourist attraction.
Latchford was a prominent antiquities dealer who allegedly orchestrated an operation to sell looted Cambodian sculptures on the international market.
From 1970 to the 1980s, during Cambodia’s civil wars and the communist Khmer Rouge ‘s brutal reign, organized looting networks sent artifacts to Latchford, who then sold them to Western collectors, dealers, and institutions. These pieces were often physically damaged, having been pried off temple walls or other structures by the looters.
Latchford was indicted in a New York federal court in 2019 on charges including wire fraud and conspiracy. He died in 2020, aged 88, before he could be extradited to face charges.
Cambodia, like neighboring Thailand, has benefited from a trend in recent decades involving the repatriation of art and archaeological treasures. These include ancient Asian artworks as well as pieces lost or stolen during turmoil in places such as Syria, Iraq and Nazi-occupied Europe. New York’s Metropolitan Museum of Art is one of the prominent institutions that has been returning illegally smuggled art, including to Cambodia.
“The ancient artifacts created and preserved by our ancestors are now being returned to Cambodia, bringing warmth and joy, following the country’s return to peace,” said Hun Many, who is the younger brother of Prime Minister Hun Manet.
