Dubai is set to host one of the world’s biggest photography exhibitions next year. Organised by Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum International Photography Award (HIPA) and held at Dubai Design District from March 16 to 19, the event will exhibit more than 700 world-class images by acclaimed international photographers.
The Global Perspective on Photography exhibition will have more than a dozen curators presenting images from the 20th and 21st century from 25 countries.
They will be categorised into 18 international exhibits mapping the evolution of photography, the aim being to underscore the cultural similarities within such diversity. The UAE works will be curated by Emirati photographer Jassim Al Awadh.
The exhibition will follow HIPA’s grand award ceremony and will be part of the inaugural Dubai Photography Season which will kick off during Art Dubai season in March, details of which will be announced soon.
The season will also have a range of photography workshops led by international photographers. The exhibition has been initiated to put the UAE at the forefront of the international photography industry and promote the craft with educational programmes and workshops.
“Photography is an emerging market and the passion and talent is abundant,” says HIPA’s secretary, Ali Bin Thalith. “We need to nurture this.”
He says photography, as of yet, hasn’t received its due status as an artistic medium.
“Through this exhibition we want to introduce the appreciation of photography as an art.
“We also want to put Dubai’s photography scene on the world map,” he says. Scott Gray, the founder of the World Photography Organisation, echoed Bin Thalith’s sentiments. “Photography is in its embryonic stage and it needs to be nurtured,” he says.
“This is the decisive time for photography to assert itself as an art. This exhibition creates a true global stage for photography and will help create an artistic appreciation for it.”
Bin Thalith has nothing but praise for the UAE curator Al Awadh.
“He is known in the region as one of the best photographers,” says Bin Thalith.
“He was also my teacher back in 1995. He is one of the best.”
The HPA award – which was launched in 2011 – is one the most-lucrative international photography contests with prize money totalling up to US$400,000 (Dh1.46 million).
Launched in an effort to encourage art, culture and innovation at home and abroad, the competition has cash prizes ranging from $6,000 to $120,000.
The competition is open to professional and amateur photographers with an eye for story and composition. For this year’s edition, which closes at the end of the month, participants have to submit photos under categories that include Happiness, Wildlife and Father and Son.
• For details, visit www.hipa.ae