The sixth Xposure International Photography Festival will begin its week-long run on February 9 in Sharjah. Set to present more than 55 world-renowned photographers, the event will include exhibitions, talks, workshops and equipment stalls aimed at professionals and enthusiasts alike.
The festival’s talks programme covers various topics and issues in photography, with established photographers sharing insights into their process or delving into the ethical issues of war reportage and documenting climate change. All talks are open to the public and visitors can register for tickets online.
Scroll through the gallery above for some of the works being displayed at Xposure International Photography Festival.
The workshops, the prices for which range from $15 (Dh55) to $125 (Dh460), are equally varied. There are more technical and process-driven workshops centred on focal length, time-lapse, picture editing and composition, while others will take on harnessing creativity and developing the right approach to one’s subjects.
Here are five photographers to see at the Xposure photo festival:
Muhammed Muheisen
A two-time Pulitzer Prize winner, Muhammed Muheisen is known for his photographs covering the refugee crisis around the world, including Afghans in Pakistan and Syrians in Jordan who have been displaced because of the conflicts in their respective countries.
At Xposure, Muheisen is hosting a workshop titled Moments in Time, which examines aspects of visual storytelling, including the photographer’s relationship with his or her subjects. The Jerusalem-born Jordanian photographer will talk about building trust and maintaining integrity in one’s practice, including how to navigate the ethics of photography and respecting the subjects’ privacy. Moments in Time will take place on Thursday.
Diego Ibarra Sanchez
In his work, Spanish documentary photographer and filmmaker Diego Ibarra Sanchez, who lives and works in Lebanon, is determined to highlight the humanity of his subjects, no matter how violent the topic.
His projects have examined the Kafala system in Lebanon, which leaves migrant workers vulnerable to abuse; the legacy of the Yazidi genocide inflicted by ISIS in Iraq; and the horrific conditions of mental patients in Pakistan and Afghanistan.
Sanchez’s workshop on February 14 will teach photographers how to produce their own long-term photo project, from developing a storytelling process to choosing the right perspective to tell the story successfully.
Biljana Jurukovski
Since childhood, Biljana Jurukovski has cultivated an interest in different cultures. This is reflected in her body of work, which primarily focuses on portraits of individuals from tribes in Ethiopia, Angola, Mongolia and South Sudan.
The Macedonian-Australian photographer has been published in magazines around the world and has earned several awards throughout her career.
For her talk, The journey of self discovery through photography, on Wednesday at Xposure, Jurukovski will talk about her path to becoming a photographer, from working in the healthcare sector in Australia to deciding to pursue photography full-time in 2014 and travelling to remote areas around the world for her images.
Jana Andert
War photography wasn’t in Jana Andert’s career plans. She had worked as a fashion photographer for six years before studying human psychology. In time, her studies led her to consider humanitarian issues, including the refugee crisis in war-torn countries. After visiting a refugee camp in Iraq, Andert's interest expanded to the conflicts that fuelled the crisis in the first place. She spent eight months on the frontline of the battle of Mosul, producing the documentary film Inside Mosul, released in 2018.
At Xposure, the Czech photographer and videographer will talk to journalist Ray Wells about her time in Mosul and the Iraqi Special Operations Forces that led the attacks against ISIS after the terrorist group took over parts of Iraq in 2014.
Her seminar Inside the War on ISIS is taking place as part of Xposure's Auditorium Events on February 9.
Alain Schroeder
With a career spanning four decades, Alain Schroeder is a multi-award winning photographer from Belgium whose images focus on social issues and the people affected by them.
His documentary photography has shed light on many corners of the world and pockets of society. He has photographed coal miners in Ukraine, kok boru festivalgoers in Kyrgyzstan, orangutan conservationists in Indonesia, ageing “grandma” divers in South Korea and women from New York’s most affluent neighbourhoods.
On February 14, Schroeder will speak about the making of two projects: his coverage of orangutan conservation efforts in Indonesia and the training of child jockeys, also in Indonesia. The photographer will take audiences through his process, from developing the idea for the works, finding the right subjects and locations, as well as the challenges he faced along the way.
Xposure International Photography Festival will take place from February 9 to 15 at Expo Centre Sharjah. More information is at xposure.ae
Full Party in the Park line-up
2pm – Andreah
3pm – Supernovas
4.30pm – The Boxtones
5.30pm – Lighthouse Family
7pm – Step On DJs
8pm – Richard Ashcroft
9.30pm – Chris Wright
10pm – Fatboy Slim
11pm – Hollaphonic
Company%20profile
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Conflict, drought, famine
Estimates of the number of deaths caused by the famine range from 400,000 to 1 million, according to a document prepared for the UK House of Lords in 2024.
It has been claimed that the policies of the Ethiopian government, which took control after deposing Emperor Haile Selassie in a military-led revolution in 1974, contributed to the scale of the famine.
Dr Miriam Bradley, senior lecturer in humanitarian studies at the University of Manchester, has argued that, by the early 1980s, “several government policies combined to cause, rather than prevent, a famine which lasted from 1983 to 1985. Mengistu’s government imposed Stalinist-model agricultural policies involving forced collectivisation and villagisation [relocation of communities into planned villages].
The West became aware of the catastrophe through a series of BBC News reports by journalist Michael Buerk in October 1984 describing a “biblical famine” and containing graphic images of thousands of people, including children, facing starvation.
Band Aid
Bob Geldof, singer with the Irish rock group The Boomtown Rats, formed Band Aid in response to the horrific images shown in the news broadcasts.
With Midge Ure of the band Ultravox, he wrote the hit charity single Do They Know it’s Christmas in December 1984, featuring a string of high-profile musicians.
Following the single’s success, the idea to stage a rock concert evolved.
Live Aid was a series of simultaneous concerts that took place at Wembley Stadium in London, John F Kennedy Stadium in Philadelphia, the US, and at various other venues across the world.
The combined event was broadcast to an estimated worldwide audience of 1.5 billion.
Dengue%20fever%20symptoms
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more from Janine di Giovanni
Bombshell
Director: Jay Roach
Stars: Nicole Kidman, Charlize Theron, Margot Robbie
Four out of five stars
Mercer, the investment consulting arm of US services company Marsh & McLennan, expects its wealth division to at least double its assets under management (AUM) in the Middle East as wealth in the region continues to grow despite economic headwinds, a company official said.
Mercer Wealth, which globally has $160 billion in AUM, plans to boost its AUM in the region to $2-$3bn in the next 2-3 years from the present $1bn, said Yasir AbuShaban, a Dubai-based principal with Mercer Wealth.
“Within the next two to three years, we are looking at reaching $2 to $3 billion as a conservative estimate and we do see an opportunity to do so,” said Mr AbuShaban.
Mercer does not directly make investments, but allocates clients’ money they have discretion to, to professional asset managers. They also provide advice to clients.
“We have buying power. We can negotiate on their (client’s) behalf with asset managers to provide them lower fees than they otherwise would have to get on their own,” he added.
Mercer Wealth’s clients include sovereign wealth funds, family offices, and insurance companies among others.
From its office in Dubai, Mercer also looks after Africa, India and Turkey, where they also see opportunity for growth.
Wealth creation in Middle East and Africa (MEA) grew 8.5 per cent to $8.1 trillion last year from $7.5tn in 2015, higher than last year’s global average of 6 per cent and the second-highest growth in a region after Asia-Pacific which grew 9.9 per cent, according to consultancy Boston Consulting Group (BCG). In the region, where wealth grew just 1.9 per cent in 2015 compared with 2014, a pickup in oil prices has helped in wealth generation.
BCG is forecasting MEA wealth will rise to $12tn by 2021, growing at an annual average of 8 per cent.
Drivers of wealth generation in the region will be split evenly between new wealth creation and growth of performance of existing assets, according to BCG.
Another general trend in the region is clients’ looking for a comprehensive approach to investing, according to Mr AbuShaban.
“Institutional investors or some of the families are seeing a slowdown in the available capital they have to invest and in that sense they are looking at optimizing the way they manage their portfolios and making sure they are not investing haphazardly and different parts of their investment are working together,” said Mr AbuShaban.
Some clients also have a higher appetite for risk, given the low interest-rate environment that does not provide enough yield for some institutional investors. These clients are keen to invest in illiquid assets, such as private equity and infrastructure.
“What we have seen is a desire for higher returns in what has been a low-return environment specifically in various fixed income or bonds,” he said.
“In this environment, we have seen a de facto increase in the risk that clients are taking in things like illiquid investments, private equity investments, infrastructure and private debt, those kind of investments were higher illiquidity results in incrementally higher returns.”
The Abu Dhabi Investment Authority, one of the largest sovereign wealth funds, said in its 2016 report that has gradually increased its exposure in direct private equity and private credit transactions, mainly in Asian markets and especially in China and India. The authority’s private equity department focused on structured equities owing to “their defensive characteristics.”
FIGHT CARD
From 5.30pm in the following order:
Featherweight
Marcelo Pontes (BRA) v Azouz Anwar (EGY)
Catchweight 90kg
Moustafa Rashid Nada (KSA) v Imad Al Howayeck (LEB)
Welterweight
Mohammed Al Khatib (JOR) v Gimbat Ismailov (RUS)
Flyweight (women)
Lucie Bertaud (FRA) v Kelig Pinson (BEL)
Lightweight
Alexandru Chitoran (BEL) v Regelo Enumerables Jr (PHI)
Catchweight 100kg
Mohamed Ali (EGY) v Marc Vleiger (NED)
Featherweight
James Bishop (AUS) v Mark Valerio (PHI)
Welterweight
Gerson Carvalho (BRA) v Abdelghani Saber (EGY)
Middleweight
Bakhtiyar Abbasov (AZE) v Igor Litoshik (BLR)
Bantamweight:
Fabio Mello (BRA) v Mark Alcoba (PHI)
Welterweight
Ahmed Labban (LEB) v Magomedsultan Magemedsultanov (RUS)
Bantamweight
Trent Girdham (AUS) v Jayson Margallo (PHI)
Lightweight
Usman Nurmagomedov (RUS) v Roman Golovinov (UKR)
Middleweight
Tarek Suleiman (SYR) v Steve Kennedy (AUS)
Lightweight
Dan Moret (USA) v Anton Kuivanen (FIN)
THE BIO
Ms Davison came to Dubai from Kerala after her marriage in 1996 when she was 21-years-old
Since 2001, Ms Davison has worked at many affordable schools such as Our Own English High School in Sharjah, and The Apple International School and Amled School in Dubai
Favourite Book: The Alchemist
Favourite quote: Failing to prepare is preparing to fail
Favourite place to Travel to: Vienna
Favourite cuisine: Italian food
Favourite Movie : Scent of a Woman
MATCH INFO
West Ham United 2 (Antonio 73', Ogbonna 90 5')
Tottenham Hotspur 3 (Son 36', Moura 42', Kane 49')
MEYDAN RESULTS
6.30pm Baniyas (PA) Group 2 Dh125,000 (Dirt) 1,400m
Winner ES Ajeeb, Sam Hitchcock (jockey), Ibrahim Aseel (trainer).
7.05pm Maiden (TB) Dh165,000 (D) 1,200m
Winner Galaxy Road, Antonio Fresu, Musabah Al Muhairi.
7.40pm Maiden (TB) Dh165,000 (D) 1,400m
Winner Al Modayar, Fernando Jara, Ali Rashid Al Raihe.
8.15pm Handicap (TB) Dh170,000 (D) 1,900m
Winner Gundogdu, Xavier Ziani, Salem bin Ghadayer.
8.50pm Rated Conditions (TB) Dh240,000 (D) 1,600m
Winner George Villiers, Tadhg O’Shea, Satish Seemar.
9.25pm Handicap (TB) Dh175,000 (D)1,200m
Winner Lady Parma, Connor Beasley, Satish Seemar
10pm Handicap (TB) Dh165,000 (D) 1,400m
Winner Zaajer, Fernando Jara, Ali Rashid Al Raihe
Anxiety and work stress major factors
Anxiety, work stress and social isolation are all factors in the recogised rise in mental health problems.
A study UAE Ministry of Health researchers published in the summer also cited struggles with weight and illnesses as major contributors.
Its authors analysed a dozen separate UAE studies between 2007 and 2017. Prevalence was often higher in university students, women and in people on low incomes.
One showed 28 per cent of female students at a Dubai university reported symptoms linked to depression. Another in Al Ain found 22.2 per cent of students had depressive symptoms - five times the global average.
It said the country has made strides to address mental health problems but said: “Our review highlights the overall prevalence of depressive symptoms and depression, which may long have been overlooked."
Prof Samir Al Adawi, of the department of behavioural medicine at Sultan Qaboos University in Oman, who was not involved in the study but is a recognised expert in the Gulf, said how mental health is discussed varies significantly between cultures and nationalities.
“The problem we have in the Gulf is the cross-cultural differences and how people articulate emotional distress," said Prof Al Adawi.
“Someone will say that I have physical complaints rather than emotional complaints. This is the major problem with any discussion around depression."
Daniel Bardsley
MOUNTAINHEAD REVIEW
Starring: Ramy Youssef, Steve Carell, Jason Schwartzman
Director: Jesse Armstrong
Rating: 3.5/5
What is a Ponzi scheme?
A fraudulent investment operation where the scammer provides fake reports and generates returns for old investors through money paid by new investors, rather than through ligitimate business activities.
MANDOOB
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Banthology: Stories from Unwanted Nations
Edited by Sarah Cleave, Comma Press
