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Surviving In the Hot Zones: The Impact of CKDnT
Ed Kashi

Ed Kashi is an internationally recognized photojournalist, filmmaker, and educator who has been making images and telling stories for more than 45 years. His restless creativity has continually placed him at the forefront of new approaches to visual storytelling. Dedicated to documenting the social and political issues that define our times, a sensitive eye and an intimate and compassionate relationship to his subjects are signatures of his intense and unsparing work. As a contributing photographer to the VII Foundation, Kashi has been recognized for his complex imagery and its compelling rendering of the human condition. Kashi’s innovative approach to photography and filmmaking has produced several influential short films and earned recognition by the POYi Awards as 2015’s Multimedia Photographer of the Year. Kashi’s embrace of technology has led to creative social media projects for clients including National Geographic, The New Yorker, Time, Geo and MSNBC. From implementing a unique approach to photography and filmmaking in his 2006 Iraqi Kurdistan Flipbook, to revolutionary Instagram coverage of Hurricane Sandy for TIME in 2012, Kashi continues to create compelling imagery and engage with the world in new ways. Along with numerous awards from World Press Photo, POYi, CommArts and American Photography, Kashi’s images have been published and exhibited worldwide. His editorial assignments and personal projects have generated fourteen books. In 2002, Kashi in partnership with his wife, writer + filmmaker Julie Winokur, founded Talking Eyes Media. The non-profit company has produced numerous award-winning short films, exhibits, books, and multimedia pieces that explore significant social issues.
Surviving In the Hot Zones: The Impact of CKDnT
In January of 2013, I arrived in Chichigalpa, Nicaragua for a short assignment to photograph an underreported illness that was devastating rural communities. This deadly disease, known as CKDnT (chronic kidney disease of nontraditional causes), was quickly becoming a global epidemic. Strenuous work in extreme heat without sufficient rest and hydration is considered a main driver of the illness. I have documented this deadly and underreported disease in Nicaragua, El Salvador, India, Peru and Sri Lanka, and as of 2022, Nepal and Qatar. This project lies at the crux of environmental justice, worker rights, climate change, and wealth inequality.

Date
11 April-10 May
Opening event 6:30 pm
Address
Nofa creative space

Amman: Between Borders, Beyond Refuge
Moises Saman

Moises Saman is a documentary photographer and a member of Magnum Photos who is currently based in Amman, Jordan. The attacks of 9/11, just a year into his career, dramatically altered his path, thrusting him into the global coverage of the conflicts that followed. Initially following a traditional journalistic approach, Saman shifted toward a more nuanced exploration of the lasting impact of war. Over the past two decades, his work has been deeply rooted in the Middle East, capturing some of the region’s most transformative and turbulent moments. From the 9/11 aftermath and the U.S. invasion of Iraq to the Arab Spring uprisings, the rise of ISIS and the fall of the Syrian regime of Bashar Al Assad, Saman has documented not just the frontlines of conflict but also the profound human stories that emerge in the shadows of war and revolution. Saman’s work has received numerous awards and grants, His first monograph, “Discordia,” was published in 2016, and his latest book, “Glad Tidings of Benevolence,” was released in March 2023.
Amman: Between Borders, Beyond Refuge
This photography exhibition offers a window into the lives of urban refugees navigating the complexities of displacement in Amman, a city that has long served as a crossroads for those seeking refuge. Through a carefully curated collection of images, the exhibition reveals the hidden stories of individuals and families living beyond the confines of refugee camps, within the city’s vibrant yet challenging urban landscape. The photographs capture intimate moments of daily life, shared meals, children at play, quiet acts of faith, and the struggle for meaningful work. By focusing on these everyday scenes, the exhibition challenges the conventional narrative of refugees as victims, instead portraying them as complex individuals shaped not solely by their displacement, but by their aspirations, resilience, and humanity. Rather than presenting a singular, linear account, the exhibition unfolds as a layered, multidimensional story, one that invites viewers to reflect on questions of home, belonging, and identity. A thread running throughout the images is the way refugees have adapted to urban life while confronting an uncertain future, making visible the emotional and social landscapes of displacement. Ultimately, this exhibition encourages audiences to reconsider their perceptions of displacement, seeing refugees not as distant figures in a global crisis but as part of a shared human experience. By anchoring these stories within Amman, a city shaped by histories of refuge and reinvention, the exhibition deepens our understanding of how migration transforms both people and places.

Date
14 April-10 May
Opening event 6:30 pm
Address
MMAG Foundation

EN PRIMERA LINEA” On the Front Line
Diego Ibarra Sánchez

Diego Ibarra Sánchez, 1982, is a Spanish renowned documentary photographer, filmmaker, and educator who is based in Lebanon. His work primarily focuses on in-depth, long-form visual storytelling, and he is known for taking a critical stance on the use of images in contemporary society. He believes that photography should do more than simply provide a window into the world’s events; it should provoke questions and reflections. Diego has been working for THE NEW YORK TIMES since 2012 and has published his stories in various newspapers, magazines, and TV channels, including France 24 and UNICEF, among others. Diego’s dedication to highlighting the impact of war on education dates back to 2012. In 2022, he published his first photo book titled “The Phoenician Collapse,” which explores the crisis within a crisis in Lebanon and serves as a visual testament to the country’s challenging times. Diego Ibarra Sánchez has received numerous accolades and awards for his outstanding work in the field of documentary photography and visual storytelling.
EN PRIMERA LINEA” On the Front Line
En primera Linea” is a photographic exhibition by Spanish documentary photographer Diego Ibarra Sánchez, who is based in Lebanon. Through delicate strokes of light, the exhibition captures both the horrors of war and the resilience that emerges from every tragedy, spanning Afghanistan, Lebanon, Ukraine, Pakistan, Iraq, and Gambia over the past two decades.

Date
10 April-10 May
Opeing event 6:00 pm
Artist talk: 5 May 6:30 pm
Address
ZARA Centre

Refugees
Nurith Wagner-Strauss

Born in Melk / Austria / Vienna University of Music: Degree in music pedagogy, Freelance photographer since 1987 / Regular photography trips to India, cooperation with NGO NISHTHA / Photography essays on Roma on the Southern Peloponnese, Syrian refugees in Serbia, children in slums or migrant workers in India, nomads in Mongolia / Lives and works in Vienna Several solo exhibitions and participation in group exhibitions in museums in Austria, in Germany and in Jordan Wagner-Strauss’ work focuses on women and children in social and intercultural contexts. As a mother of four, she conveys her sense of social responsibility through the artistic medium of photography. Lives and works in Vienna.
Refugees
Every war is inhumane, which makes it all the more important to show humanity and help those who are fleeing. Night-time mission. Syrian refugees arrive in Horgoš, Serbia, in 2015, on their way to Hungary and then to Austria. Every thirty minutes, a bus arrives, packed with exhausted, overtired and traumatized men, women and children - some wearing only T-shirts, others barefoot or in flip-flops. It’s 3°C. I am part of a convoy from Austria, bringing blankets, warm clothes, shoes, drinks and food to the refugees. This is where my night-time photo series was taken. There are more wars in the world today than ever before. Death, destruction, famine, and disease are their direct consequences. People flee war-torn countries to save their lives and hope for a better future. In Europe, the issue of refugees remains politically charged and highly controversial. Xenophobia is spreading, foreigners are increasingly viewed with suspicion, and populists are gaining ground. The most vulnerable members of society are being stereotyped as “the enemy.” Through my photographs, I aim to restore their dignity. I feel a deep social responsibility, which I express through my medium—the fundamental language of photography. My goal is to evoke empathy, provoke thought and spark discussions about the fate of migrants in an intercultural context.

Date
10 April- 10 May
Opening event 6:00 pm
Address
ZARA Centre

Manikins
Tina Cosmai

A well-known interpreter of post-photography, Tina Cosmai explores the human soul with a look at social and existential contradictions, creating dreamlike and surreal atmospheres with strong symbolic and conceptual connotations. She has participated in numerous exhibitions in Italy and abroad. Her works have been published in leading magazines. She has won numerous awards including the international New-Post Photography award, Mia Photo Fair, Milan 2021. Contrasto publishes the book Via di Fuga a Mare and Photo London magazine No. 88 a monograph of her artworks.
Manikins
The post-human condition places the subject at the center of a reticular reality pervaded by technology that transforms everything into abstract shapes and geometries. Among the cranes, the beach, the benches, the piers, man is a prisoner of that reality he contributed to build. Then loneliness becomes the existential condition of individuals, increasingly separated from each other and from the community itself. Unable to talk, they wander aimlessly, hypnotized by Moloch of the technique that pushes them towards a regressive drift, where ancestral monsters resurface. Under the reassuring rationality of lines and volumes, the primordial anxieties of an IO increasingly suffocated and compressed by hypermodernity resurface. In this hallucinated scenario, men, unaware, become dummies of themselves, trapped in the dense network of abstractions, often unwittingly generated by themselves.

Date
10 April -10 May
Address
Fann Wa Chai

Where is the bride of the nile
Roger Anis

Roger Anis is an Egyptian documentary photographer, photo editor, and curator. He earned a Fine Arts degree in 2008 and a Master’s from the Royal Academy of Arts in the Netherlands in 2024, focusing on water and rivers. He began his career as a photojournalist in 2010, working with international newspapers and agencies like AP, AFP, Getty, The New York Times, and TIME. His work has been exhibited globally, including at the Institut du Monde Arabe, the Hermitage Museum, and MUCEM. Roger explores social and environmental issues, focusing on underreported stories. He is the Artistic Director of EverydayNile, empowering storytellers from Nile Basin countries, and continues to experiment with photography, filmmaking, and mixed media.
Where is the bride of the nile
The Nile River, spanning 6,650 km across 11 African countries, is a vital lifeline facing climate change, pollution, and geopolitical tensions. My connection to the Nile, rooted in my hometown of Minya, sparked an exploration that began in 2018. The Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam underscored the intertwined destinies of Nile Basin countries. In 2019, I visited Ethiopia’s Lake Tana, where economic water scarcity contrasts with abundant water. In 2020, I traveled to Sudan during historic floods, witnessing the extreme water crises at the confluence of the Blue and White Nile. Ancient Egyptians sanctified the Nile, but modern culture has shifted to apathy. On Qursaya Island, Cairo, fishermen and the VeryNile initiative fight plastic pollution. In collaboration, we revived the ancient Nile Parade, now on Nile Day (Feb 22), to restore reverence and highlight threats like fish stock declines, which halved between 2011 and 2019.

Date
13 April -10 May
Opening event 6:00 pm
Address
Cervantes Institute

Stranded – On Life After Imprisonment
Elsie Haddad

Born in 1982, Elsie Haddad is a documentary photographer based inBeirut. Her work revolves around transition and change, as well as around places that hold memories and been witness to different eras and events. She is interested in people and their stories, and look for ways of sharing it. She likes to push the boundaries of the genre sometimes bringing her own fiction to the story. In 2015, her project ‘Bogota’ was exhibited in Berlin and Beirut before winning the Photomed Festival Portfolio Award. Her series ‘The SandAlong The Way’ was also exhibited in Berlin, Jordan and Lebanon. Subsequently, she received a grant from ADPP for her project ‘Stranded - On Life After Imprisonment’ which was exhibited during the GPP “Photo week” in Dubai in 2019. In 2016, she received the Boghossian Award for her body of work. Since 2019, she is part of Collectif 1200, a collective of 11 Lebanese photographers, working on topics related to Lebanon and the current situation. Together they showed their work in FAB (Festival des Arts de Bordeaux) in 2021 and in Casa Arabe during Photo España 2022. In 2023, she received the World Monument Fund grant, in collaboration with Magnum Foundation, to work on Cultural Heritage in Beirut.
Stranded – On Life After Imprisonment
Prison constitutes one of the oldest and most conventional tools used by society to punish crime, but the toll detention has on individuals after their release is often overlooked. I wanted to take a closer look at what it meant to be an ex-convict in this society and how each person dealt with that challenge. This project documents intimate stories of people who have served time in jail and communicates their struggles while trying to pick up their lives on release. Each story becomes its own small book with which we get to look with a transcendent eye on the idea of crime and punishment and sometimes on the absurdity of correction facilities and puritan societies. This photography documentary project was supported by AFAC, Magnum Foundation and Prince Claus Fund as part of the Arab Documentary Photography Program.

Date
10 April - 10 May
Opening event 6:00 pm
Address
ZARA Centre

The War on Gaza: When Water and Food Become Weapons
Abdul Rahman Zaqout

Abdul Rahman Zaqout is a Palestinian photojournalist born in 1985. He has worked in photography since 2009 and holds a Bachelor’s degree in Media from Al-Aqsa University in Gaza. He was appointed as a teaching assistant in 2008 and has been a part-time photography lecturer at Palestine University since 2017. Zaqout specializes in visual storytelling and has produced numerous photo stories from Gaza. His work has been exhibited locally and internationally, solidifying his reputation as a leading Palestinian photojournalist documenting humanitarian struggles and daily life in Gaza
The War on Gaza: When Water and Food Become Weapons
My photographic project documents the devastating impact of the war on Gaza, where water and food have become tools of siege and daily suffering. Through my lens, I have observed how children in Gaza are facing hunger and thirst amidst the devastation of war, searching for a meal to satisfy their hunger in relief queues, or carrying the meager plates of food they receive with joy mixed with deprivation. In my photographs, you will find faces exhausted from waiting in front of food stands, small hands reaching out to grab a morsel that may never be repeated, and nearly empty plates that reflect the harshness of the conditions. I captured scenes of children sitting on the ground, eagerly sharing whatever food they have, their eyes speaking of a suffering that needs no words. This project is not merely a documentation of the disaster; it is a visual testimony to real suffering, and a message to the world that water and food are not weapons of war, but human rights that must be guaranteed for all.

Date
13 April - 10 May
Opening event 7:30 pm
Address
Jasmine House

Dual Canvases: Humanity Reclaimed
TJ Daenhardt

TJ is a passionate photographer who loves to capture the beauty and diversity of the world. He views photography as a powerful means of self-expression and a way to share his perspective. Although he primarily focuses on social and cultural documentary photography, he also experiments with different themes and genres that bring him joy. In his work, he has experienced the contrast and connection between various cultures and landscapes around the world, and he has spent nearly 8 years in Palestine, where he feels a deep connection to the land and the people. During this time, he was also involved in supporting and promoting young Palestinian photographers. TJ believes that photography is a powerful tool for storytelling, education, and social exchange, and hopes that his work inspires others to see the world in its complexity with curiosity, compassion, empathy, and creativity.
Dual Canvases: Humanity Reclaimed
Dual Canvases: Humanity Reclaimed The Apartheid Wall, stretching over 460 km through Palestine, has been transformed from a symbol of division into a statement of humanity in this exhibition. Photographs of pro-Palestine protests in Germany during the first 12 months of the genocide are blended with powerful graffiti on the wall. The wall, a monument of inhumanity, becomes a canvas for both expressive graffiti and TJ’s visual narrative. The inhumanity of those committing and supporting the genocide is contrasted with the humanity displayed by the protesters. Despite facing repression, these protesters showcase unwavering solidarity. The exhibition highlights the contrast between the inhumanity of the Apartheid Wall and the global solidarity for justice. The graffiti, with its raw and unfiltered messages, reflects the determination of the Palestinian people. The protest photos capture individuals united in their quest for human rights and equality. This artistic synthesis invites you to reflect on finding humanity in the face of inhumanity, challenging perceptions of resistance and solidarity. The transformed wall stands as a testament to human resilience and solidarity, encouraging reflection, engagement, and inspiring a message of hope and unity. May every symbol of oppression someday be dismantled or repurposed into a force for positive change.

Date
13 April - 10 May
Opening event 7:30 pm
Address
Jasmine House

After the war
Marwan Tahtah

Marwan Tahtah is a professional photographer who’s been working for different photo Agencies and Lebanese newspapers from 2000. Marwan’s work has been on display in many photography exhibitions in Beirut Paris Berlin & USA . In June 2016, he received a Master Diploma in Photography from the École Nationale Supérieure de la Photographie in Arles, France.
After the war
After the war, the pain of the people of the city and the village is revealed. War, with its tragedies, affects us all. The destruction extends to the undamaged neighborhoods, reflecting the faces of the people who have lost loved ones or friends, a home, a neighborhood, or perhaps a feeling that no longer exists somewhere. People search for memories that might take them back to a better past. This isn’t the first war I’ve photographed in Lebanon, but I hope it’s the last.

Date
10 April - 10 May
Opening event 6:00 pm
Address
ZARA Centre

Crawling on the Dust
Ali Zaraay

Ali Zaraay (1994) Documentary Photographer in Cairo. He studied in Hochschule Hannover’s International Program of Documentary and Photojournalism, Ali did his residency in Cite Des Arts, Paris 2023. He has worked as a press photographer 2012-2016 in a variety of Egyptian newspapers. Since 2015, he has been working on his long-term documentary project “Crawling on Dust” with the Nomadic Bedouins of Egypt, which recently received a grant from the Culture Resource and AFAC’s ADPP,2024. Ali currently is interested in interactive installations and public exhibitions, and has been engaged in curation,creative production and book-making. He recently founded “Safena 7” collective that offers a space for critical and multidisciplinary collective discussions around photography and visual arts in Egypt. Ali’s current artworks are concerned with the change in the city, the demolition, construction and displacement. He believes in the importance of contemporary multimedia tools; collage, installations, video, sound and web-documentaries to complement photography.
Crawling on the Dust
A project with Haj Hani, my friend and my gate to the Nomadic Bedouins in Egypt’s Delta. It explores, through the friendship with Haj Hani, a life that is always on the move. The Nomadic Bedouins take pride in how they know well how to navigate the lands, but now this memory doesn’t allow them pursue their traditional lifestyle because of the continuous changes.These spatial memories are however embedded in their social fabric that allows for alternative narratives and meanings of “space” ,“road”, “home”. It further unfolds how the urban outstretching around Egypt affects not only people in the city, but also challenges the lives of Haj Hani and his nomadic people in the Delta. These pictures do not adhere to the stable; instead, they wander through the everyday rhythms of a nomadic bedouin life, ever in motion and change. They seek to narrate and understand—through the intimacy with animals, the unhurried pace of a donkey, the unbearable heat and cold of tents, the watchful gaze of night guards, the distinctive archives, the long and tiresome routes, and the whispers of myth—what it means to be be always on the move, to belong to temporary lands, and to dream beyond the restless sea. The project attempts to look, through a family’s different generations, into modes in which nomadic bedouins resist marginalisation, underrepresentation and systematic oppressions by imagining an otherwise about themselves. These radical imaginations vary between generations; both ‘crawling’ on the dust and pursuing a centuries-long nomadic lifestyle or by trying to migrate to the European shores across the Mediterranean, like Selim, Hani’s son who I have been photographing since he was a child and recently made it to Italy after almost a year on the dangerous route.Years earlier, Hani himself had tried to make the same journey, but fate pulled him back, anchoring him to the familial rhythms of the nomadic Bedouin life he inherited. With Hani, I think of the land and movement, of imagination and resistance.

Date
14 April -10 May
Opening event 6:30 pm
Address
MMAG Foundation

A quest no family should ever have to endure
Sandro Basili

I am a French photographer based in Beirut, Lebanon, with a background in journalism and education. Photography is a way, for me, to connect with people and capture complex realities words can not describe. Driven by curiosity and a desire to spark imagination, I find my voice in minimalism and documentary photography, adapting visual storytelling to reflect the depth and complexity of life. My work is guided by an ethical and human approach, aiming to highlight underreported subjects and challenge preconceived notions. Through my images, I explore struggles and seek to shed light on lesser-covered topics.
A quest no family should ever have to endure
After the fall of Bashar al-Assad on December 8, 2024, countless families began the painful quest for their missing loved ones. Disappeared for months, others for years, some for decades, taken by the regime and swallowed into silence. In the wake of its horrors and the inhumane conditions endured by detainees, this series follows the relentless journey of those seeking answers. Some travel from northern Syria, others from abroad. Each has lost someone. From prison records to interrogation cells, from hospitals to morgues, every step demands more strength while taking a piece of it in return. Some reunite. Some bury their dead. Many remain trapped in unbearable uncertainty.

Date
10 April - 10 May
Opening event 6:00 pm
Address
ZARA Centre

Ashes of the Arabian’s Pearl
Valentin Joseph Valette

Valentin Joseph Valette - French, of Algerian origin. Author-photographer, doctoral student in visual anthropology. Working between France, North Africa and the Gulf countries. Driven by both my photographic practice and my studies in Humanities and Social Sciences, I am interested in the use of visual arts as a research instrument. My interest in the Arab and Muslim Worlds, fueled by my studies in sociology at the Sciences Po Aix-en-Provence, led me to work between photographic commissions, long-term personal projects, and academic involvement, mainly in France, in North Africa, and the Gulf countries. I joined the Research Institute for Development in Tunisia (IRD) from 2021 to 2024 for which I produced my first research film. In this context, I have been also commissioned by Médecins du Monde to carry out a photographic project on the theme of migration. More recently, I have been working on a long-term project exploring the evolving political, economic, and social dynamics of the Gulf countries. It began in the Sultanate of Oman from 2021 to 2023 and will continue this year in Saudi Arabia. In early 2024, I started a PhD project in visual anthropology entitled “The Harkis and Algeria: links, experiences, and circulations”. I am affiliated with the Institute of Ethnology and Social Anthropology (IDEAS) at Aix-Marseille University.
Ashes of the Arabian’s Pearl
On January 10, 2020, the Sultanate of Oman mourned the death of Qābūs Bin Sa‘īd Āl-Būsa‘īdī, a beloved monarch whose fifty-year reign was marked by longevity, an absolute record in the Arab world. Throughout these years, Sultan Qābūs had shaped himself into a founding figure of modern Oman, dedicated to rapidly developing the country through oil wealth and inspired by the myth of the « Nahda ». Now, it falls upon his cousin, the current Sultan Haitham Bin Tariq, to carry on the development policy, « Oman Vision 2040, » initiated by Qābūs before his death. Between the end of a successful reign for Sultan Qābūs and the commencement of Haitham’s era, « Ashes of the Arabian’s Pearl » explores a period of interconnection, a chrysalis of monarchic transition, and the pressing need for economic diversification as the oil and gas resources dwindle. « AOTP » also cultivates a metaphorical conversation between two distinct demographics: those in positions of employment and those who serve in such roles. The documentary illustrates the lifestyles of numerous men, the skilled artisans who craft the dreams of the nation, while contrasting their experiences with those from Omani entrepreneurial families. A series of portraits – sometimes in the form of opposition in diptychs – but not only, underline the connections and hierarchies embodied in this phenomenon of globalized labor migration.

Date
10 April - 10 May
Opening event 6:00 pm
Address
ZARA Centre

It’s not trafficking, it’s transportation
Carmen Yasmine ABD ALI

Carmen Yasmine Abd Ali is a French-Lebanese photographer and storyteller based in Senegal who works around the West African region. After a degree in Journalism and a D.U. in Documentary Photography and Transmedia writings, she started her career in 2019 working as a freelancer for AFP. Since then, other frequent collaborations have emerged with the international press who call upon her for commissions, especially with The New York Times, Der Spiegel or The Washington Post. Carmen Yasmine Abd Ali considers the projects she produces as opportunities to delve into the intimate aspects of human experiences. She is convinced that understanding individual narratives help to gain insight into global phenomena and foster connections between diverse communities, in a world where empathy and caring must, she believes, be revalued. Her work explores the themes of identity, migration and social constructs. She aims to go into the intimacy of the lives and places approached to better share them, and to create a bond with the participants in order to amplify their voices and experiences.
It’s not trafficking, it’s transportation
n Agadez, Niger, migration has long been a cornerstone of the local economy, with thousands heading north to Europe. Previously closed as part of a deal with the European Union, the route has reopened due to the recent military coup in Niger, with anti-migration laws repealed and military escort services resumed. If the EU’s top diplomat for the African region states that Niger’s military junta is striking back at them for refusing to recognize the junta, the reality is that Agadez has been at the crossroads of trade and migratory routes for centuries, and that the law never stopped people to cross. On the ground, Migrants took other roads deep in the desert, taking even greater risks. Motivated by economic hardship and political instability, migrants from West and Central Africa brave the treacherous journey through the Sahara despite the dangers involved, often aiming to reach Europe via Libya or Algeria, driven by the hope of finding employment and sending money back home to provide basic needs to their families. However, the reopening of the route has raised concerns among European officials, exacerbating the debate over migration policies in a context of the raise of nationalism. The story of Agadez underscores the intricate dynamics between migration, politics, and economics, shedding light on the human toll and the course of migrants’ life.

Date
10 April - 10 May
Opening event 6:00 pm
Address
ZARA Centre

Indefinitely
Lamees Saleh Sharf Eldin

Lamees Saleh Sharf Eldin is a documentary photographer and visual storyteller based in Cairo. She began her career during the January 25th Revolution of 2011, aiming to express and document the feelings of loneliness and identity loss in her country. Lamees was part of the Danish School of Media and Journalism (DMJX) educational program in 2022. With a background in psychology and sociology, her artistic work is driven by a desire to visually expose and narrate social issues in Egypt. Lamees’s long-term project, Indefinitely, was shortlisted for the CAP Prize 2023, earned her a grant from the 2022 Prince Claus Fund, Arab Documentary Photography Program, and Magnum Foundation, and participated in the Copenhagen Photo Festival 2024.
Indefinitely
When a child is kidnapped in Egypt, the child’s family is suddenly shocked and sets out on their own to search among millions of people without any organized assistance or support. After filing a report, The families search independently in all the governorates, lose most of their money, and fall victim to scammers. Another child could be abducted at any time amid numerous loopholes that have gone unaddressed for years. That means the new family will begin their search alone for years, and the child abduction case will become one of the millions of cold, neglected cases. This project documents the neglected stories of kidnapped children and their families’ lonely journeys. It investigates cases spanning various periods and locations, starting from 40 years ago when a six-year-old girl named Rehab was kidnapped in Alexandria in 1982, leading to other stories following the 2011 revolution. In 2017 an average of 4 children were kidnapped every day within three months in one governorate, according to police reports in Egypt. These incidents occurred specifically during the summer months, commonly known as the abduction season. According to the National Council for Childhood and Motherhood in Egypt, more than 2,264 children were kidnapped in 2018 and 2019.

Date
10 April - 10 May
Opening event 6:00 pm
Address
ZARA Centre

What Do Fathers Leave Behind?
Sadiq Al-Harasi

Sadiq Al-Harasi is a Yemeni cultural practitioner and emerging artist with a Bachelor of Science in Architecture from Sana’a University. Driven by a desire to explore hidden truths and challenge societal narratives, Sadiq creates thought-provoking art that delves into themes of loss, memory, identity, and belonging. He is particularly drawn to the expressive power of the human form, utilizing it to explore the intricate connections between culture, identity, and the dynamic interactions between individuals and their environments. His creative practice encompasses diverse visual art forms, including collage, photography, cyanotype, and embroidery. His works have been exhibited locally, internationally, and in several virtual exhibitions.
What Do Fathers Leave Behind?
I’ve spent my life searching for my father, trying to piece together the fragments he left behind. I’ve longed to hear his stories—his adventures, sacrifices, and countless journeys. His absence compelled me to delve into the remaining physical archives of our family. But I wonder: does the past exist as we remember it? How far does memory stretch across the distance created by time? My ongoing project, “What Do Fathers Leave Behind?” is an autoethnographic exploration of the absence. It materialises the loss of a father, identity, and the past and future selves of both my father and me. Through this project, I delve into the intricate relationship between identity, loss, belonging, and memory, utilizing family archives, photography, writing, and sound. I am particularly interested in the intersections of these media and how they can collaborate as tools to construct an experimental memory landscape.

Date
14 April -10 May
Opening event 6:30 pm
Address
MMAG Foundation

DEPARTURES: A Journey Back into Syria
Anas Khalaf

Inspired by Jean-Luc Godard’s quote « Photography is the truth and cinéma, is 24 times the truth per second», Anas Khalaf has been taking photographs since his adolescence, and making films since he discovered what the language of Cinéma is. He is a Syrian-French filmmaker who currently lives in Doha, Qatar, having left Damascus, Syria with his family in 2012 as a result of the Syrian conflict. He holds a Bachelor of Arts from the Normandy Business School in France. He and his wife Rana Kazkaz, co-founded the production company Synéastes Films in 2010. Together they have made 4 short films, last of which was the multi-awarded Mare Nostrum (Sundance), 1 feature film, The Translator (TIFF), and 2 kids (Zayd and Zayn).
DEPARTURES: A Journey Back into Syria
On December 8, 2024, I was glued to the television, watching as my beloved homeland transformed before my eyes. After so many years steeped in longing and silence, Syria was awakening once again. The long awaited fall finally happened. The streets that once echoed with fear now resonated with hope and resilience. More than anything, I yearned to be back in my mother’s embrace. During all of the war, she remained in Damascus, resistant, resilient. While the world outside spiraled into uncertainty, she stuck to her daily routine, quietly enduring the hardships. Even as everything around her shifted, she chose to stay, an embodiment of the spirit of our homeland. She had been waiting for the day of change, finally, in Syria. And the day her children would return. I had been looking forward to the return journey, excited for that long-awaited tender reunion in the place that held all my childhood memories. But life, always, has other plans. My mother passed just days before my arrival in Damascus. The shock hit me like a bright candle extinguished too soon. The woman who had been my anchor and my long lasting connection to home was no more. In her absence, Damascus became a bittersweet reminder of her life. Every street and corner seemed to whisper her name. The rituals she loved, now silent and still, turned into the journey I wanted to capture through my lense. The places she had always been in and through. Even though she was no longer physically here, it felt like she was everywhere, woven into the very essence of this city. This exhibition honors her strength and tells the story of a mother and her son, a journey of loss, remembrance, and the profound power of love that ultimately finds its way home. This exhibition echos the story of Syria, an example of human suffering and the hope of a new departure.

Date
14 April -10 May
Opening event 6:30 pm
Artist talk: 24 April 6:30 pm
Address
MMAG Foundation

Muharram
Marrim Akashi Sani

Marrim Akashi Sani is an Iranian-Iraqi artist from Detroit, USA. Akashi Sani is interested in the hybridity of Islam, ways in which the nuances of religious practices and traditions are changing in the North American context. Her work spans mediums, mainly working in jewelry and photography.
Muharram
This series documents the forms Islamic practices take in order to survive the American Midwest. The holy month itself amplifies current events in the abstract - through rituals, poetry, and traditional arts. Each year’s commemoration engages with current social and political struggles as much as it does with historical events.

Date
10 April - 10 May
Opening event 6:00 pm
Address
ZARA Centre

Temporary homes
Ammar Abdallah “Mory”

Born in 1996 in Wad Madani, Sudan
Participated in several group exhibitions: 2024, “Fragments of Home”, The People’s Forum, New York, USA. 2023, “The Peripheries of Escape”, Noir Gallery, Nairobi, Kenya. 2023, “Save the Sudanese Contemporary Heritage”, Lamasat Art Gallery, Cairo, Egypt 2022, “+249”, Jesuit Cultural Center, Alexandria, Egypt. 2022, “UPPA Photography Award Exhibition”, Motiv Uganda, Kampala, Uganda Awards: 2022, East Africa Photography Award (Winner - Singles), UPPA, Uganda. 2024 shortlisted in cap prize award Workshops & Mentorships: 2024, Mentorship Program, Through the Lens Collective. 2024, Sudan Visuals Mentorship Program. 2022, UPPA Portfolio Review.
Temporary homes
On the face of it, the war may seem like a conflict between two military powers, but inwardly it is a war against the Sudanese citizen. Thousands of citizens have lost their lives and homes, and more than a third of the population has been displaced between displacement camps, roads, mosques and temporary homes. The project aims to explore the life of my family displaced by war, highlighting their daily experiences in the new environment and how they adapt to their new home while keeping vivid memories of their old home.

Date
10 April -10 May
Address
Fann Wa Chai

Autograph: A glimpse of Grandma’s eternal existence
Mohanad Hassan Al-Sudani

Iraqi photographer who began his journey at the age of fifteen. He participated in his first group exhibition in 2009 and has since earned 26 awards in the fields of photography and cinema, from both local and international festivals. Notable among these are the Photography Award for Photographic Projects at the Qatar Photo Festival, as well as the Gold Award from the Iraqi Photographic Society at its 41st session. His achievements include recognition in prestigious competitions, such as the Hamdan bin Rashid Photography Competition and the World Federation of Photographic Art (FIAP) competition, as well as a Silver Medal from the International American Photographers Association (IAAP). Additionally, he received a Silver Medal in the Gulf Circuit Competition from Kuwait, a Gold Medal in the New Vision Club competition in Saudi Arabia, and an award from the International Committee of the Red Cross in collaboration with the Iraqi Red Crescent Society. Al-Sudani has conducted numerous workshops, reinforcing his role as both a technical and academic trainer at the Middle Technical University - College of Applied Arts. Furthermore, he was selected as a member of the jury for the 46th Iraqi Photographic Society competition. He held his first solo exhibition with the support of the French Institute in Iraq.
Barren South
This photographic project sheds light on the human suffering caused by the desiccation of the marshlands in southern Iraq—specifically in Maysan, Basra, and Dhi Qar. It captures the tragic shift from the natural beauty of these wetlands to a state of drought and despair. The work documents the efforts of the indigenous communities to adapt to the crisis, whether by seeking new resources or migrating, while also preserving their cultural heritage which is now at risk of vanishing. The project aims to deliver an urgent environmental and humanitarian message, calling for the preservation of this unique and historical landscape. The marshes are situated in the southern part of Mesopotamia, a region whose history traces back to the Sumerian civilization, approximately 3,000 to 4,000 years BCE, as noted by historians. UNESCO has described the “Iraqi Marshes” as one of the largest inland wetlands in the world, thriving in an extremely hot and arid environment. Due to its ecological and cultural significance, it was inscribed on the World Heritage List.

Date
12 April - 6 May
Opening event 5:00 pm
Artist talk: 14 May 4:00 pm
Address
Jacaranda Images

Rituals after her
Amira Lamti

Tunisian visual artist Amira Lamti was born in Sousse in 1996. She obtained a Bachelor’s degree in Photography, then a Master’s degree in Visual Arts from the Higher Institute of Fine Arts in Sousse. Amira questions the human’s connection with the natural and social environment. Since the beginning of her artistic research, she opted for photography and videography as mediums through which she fragments her day to day life, capturing moments, gestures and rituals, focusing on questions about heritage and transmission. She creates her own narratives, juxtaposing images of various types, still and/or in motion. Rooted in her native environment, she aims to create works imbued with contemporary influences, transcending cultural boundaries.
Rituals after her
Rituals after her” is the title of a project started in 2018 in which I’m interested in my grandfather’s habits. The grandson of a saint, his childhood was spent in a Zaouïa, a spiritual and meditative place, which he rejected taking over after his grandfather’s death. In his own home, he compulsively indulges in his own rites: accumulations and collages. The presence of my deceased grandmother, who had a rental business for traditional clothes and accessories, persists as a backdrop throughout the house, as well as in the objects he uses in his rituals. The project presents a contradiction within a daily life infused with tradition and spirituality, reflecting the mystical legacy on individual identity. In 2024, he continues to fight against oblivion and preserve some of his heritage. “Rituals after her’’ is a project that ranges from documentary photography to mise en scène, reflecting the multiple facets of heritage in different forms of transmission.

Date
10 April - 10 May
Opening event 6:00 pm
Address
ZARA Centre

Balcon atlantico
Haitam Nsais

Haitam Nsais, I was born in 1998 in the city of Larache, where I still reside. My journey in photography began in late 2018 when I started capturing images of Moroccan streets, daily life, and traditions using my phone camera. I drew inspiration from childhood photo albums and cinematic films. Over time, my passion for photography grew, and I aspired to become a professional. I acquired my first camera and began documenting my city, its people, and our way of life. I have worked on several projects, including The Old Medina of Larache, Rahmna Village near Larache, and most recently, The Atlantic Balcony. I also have other works in progress. Additionally, I have had the opportunity to participate in several exhibitions inside and outside Morocco, in cities such as Dubai, Rabat, and Casablanca, covering various themes. I continue to aspire to work on more projects in the future.
Balcon atlantico
The Atlantic Terrace in Larache, Morocco, is a historic seaside promenade offering stunning views of the Atlantic Ocean. Built during the early 20th century when the city was under Spanish control, it features European architectural influences. Over the years, it has become a favorite spot for locals and visitors alike. The terrace is considered a symbol of Larache’s history, providing a peaceful retreat from the hustle and bustle of the city. It has also become a venue for celebrations and social gatherings. Locals take pride in preserving it because it represents the city’s history and its vibrant spirit today. For me, Larache is my home, and I have many memories of this place, both as a child with my parents and as an adult with my friends. For me, it is a place filled with nostalgia, and even today I go there to escape the stresses of life and find inspiration. The Atlantic Terrace has fallen into disrepair, and damaged areas have not been repaired until part of the wall collapsed. They tried to put up barriers to keep people away because it had become a dangerous place, but that didn’t work, as people ignored the barriers and continued to stand there. But today, the entire place has been closed for renovations. However, its original character will be altered, meaning we will lose a historic site, and we will have to wait a long time for the renovations to be completed.

Date
10 April - 10 May
Opening event 6:00 pm
Address
ZARA Centre

Life in the Camp
Hassan Saleh

A Palestinian photographer originally from the Jaffa district (Salma), based in Nablus, born in 2004. He began working in conceptual photography when he found it the most appropriate way to tell stories and capture the accumulated emotions and issues that affect him. Working around the toxic lifestyles and survival methods he experiences in Palestine, he seeks to capture the humanity in each story. By drawing attention to what people tend to ignore, he is interested in showing a side of life in Palestine. His expertise lies in exploring a variety of formats to better tell ongoing stories. He believes in the power of images to evoke emotions and provoke thoughts, and he always strives to leave a positive impact through his lens. His work has been exhibited in numerous local and international exhibitions. His work generally follows a social documentary approach.
Life in the Camp
Palestinian photographer Hassan Saleh has pledged to capture the extreme injustice suffered by the people of Nablus, highlighting their resilient defiance. In his solo exhibition, Hassan poses the question: “What is life like in Palestine? How do you live amidst violence, fear, and oppression? What does the future hold when the past is so brutally stripped of its potential?” Hassan’s photographs depict a community under constant threat, with nearly 30% of the people in Jenin and Nablus living as refugees, descendants of families displaced during the 1948 Nakba. These photographs serve as a powerful reminder of the human cost of conflict and the enduring hope for a better future.

Date
1-29 May
Opening event 6:30 pm
Address
ZARA Centre

Freedom is Close Yet Distant
Nael Ikhmais Ahmed Buttma

Nael Ikhmais is an electrical technician and an electronics engineering graduate, a photographer, and a passionate Palestinian folk dance (Dabke) enthusiast and trainer. He holds an *88-hour certified first aid training certificate*. He has participated in numerous photography competitions, earning multiple awards and recognitions. His work creatively integrates Palestinian identity, aiming to document social and cultural issues through his lens. Photographic exhibition that confronts two themes that inhabit the imagination of photographers: the idyllic images of nature in contrast to a dystopian essay on big cities. This exhibition brings together two elements that make up the existence of humanity: the countryside and the cities. Brazilian photographer Vinícius Garcia, a specialist in nature images, presents an essay made in the Pantanal, a biome in the interior of Brazil, his photos show a romantic vision of the bucolic landscape of the countryside, while photographer Malu Mesquita presents an essay taken in the city of São Paulo, the largest city in South America, where the images are constructed with noise, interference of objects between the camera and the urban scene or even with double exposure, forming a collection of photographs where the metropolis appears distorted.
Ahmed Buttma is a Software Engineering student, photographer, and a wedding and advertisement photographer. Passionate about visual arts and cultural heritage, he has participated in various exhibitions and photography competitions. Alongside his love for photography, he is a passionate Palestinian folk dancer (Dabke) and trainer, and he practices sports. Through his lens, he reflects his emotions,thoughts and his deep connection to Palestinian identity.
Freedom is Close Yet Distant
is not just a photography exhibition, but a visual experience that embodies the contradiction between hope and reality, between restraint and liberation. The exhibition blends image and symbol, conveying a profound sense of the distance separating the Palestinian from their freedom, despite its apparent closeness. Through the lens, the experience reflects pain and resilience, telling stories that transcend time and geography, resonating with the hearts of those seeking to understand the meaning of stolen freedom. It is a call for reflection, to confront the truth, and to redefine the boundaries that separate us from the dream.

Date
1-29 May
Opening event 6:30 pm
Address
ZARA Centre

Book launches

Between Moments: A Portrait of Life in Jerusalem’s Old City
Bashar Tabbah

is a multicultural Jordanian-British photographer, traveller, and author. Bashar’s passion for photography, exploration, and history has dominated his life. Growing up in Jordan, surrounded by its historical treasures, has strongly influenced his interests and outlook. Since 2004, he has travelled extensively and photographed hundreds of historical locations worldwide, as well as in Jordan. He primarily focuses on sites of historical and cultural significance, and has published and collaborated on several books over the past decade. Bashar’s photography bridges the gap between documentation and artistry. He describes what he does as a combined form of freedom of movement and first-hand education in the past and its remains.
Between Moments: A Portrait of Life in Jerusalem’s Old City
Between Moments’ is a photographic exploration of modern life within the walls of the Old City of Jerusalem, a reframing and humanizing of a people and place living under occupation. Far from the media images of violence and brutality, photographer and author Bashar Tabbah invites us to witness the quieter moments of Palestinian lives within the streets, souks, and sanctuaries of the city. The book is divided into two sections: the first part features images showcasing life in and around the Old City, while the second part highlights life in the Haram al-Shareef complex. It is bilingual (Arabic and English) and features over 200 full-colour images taken between 2017 and 2023. The book and wider project are also entirely dedicated to fundraising for medical aid for Palestine. All parties involved have given time and effort for free to ensure that almost 100% of each book purchased goes to Medical Aid for Palestinians (MAP).

Date
25 April - 2 May
Opening event 5:30 pm
Address
Design Space

Palestinian memories of 1948 + booklet of photos about Jerusalem

In 1948, the Nakba – the « Catastrophe » – turned life in Palestine upside down, forcing three-quarters of Palestinians into exile, depriving them of their land, their homes, their belongings. Today, those who can bear witness to that period are becoming rare. Men and women from different social backgrounds remember the coexistence that prevailed in Palestine, the war, the exile, as well as the strength and resilience which they had to muster to adapt to new realities. A compilation of colour photographs of Jerusalem is presented with these memories. For every Palestinian, the city is charged with symbolic meaning of identity and of remembrance, the more so because it has become inaccessible to most. These photographs will be exposed from April 18th to 31th, 2025 at Alqasr Metropole Hotel. An international team of 15 people worked during more than 3 years and made this book possible: journalist, photographers, interpreters, scholars in History, anthropology and politology in the Middle East, editors, proofreaders, graphic designer, cartographer… this project was coordinated by Chris Conti and Altaïr Alcântara who worked on people’s memories in other places in the world.

Date
18 April - 10 May
Opening event 6:00 pm
Address
AlQasr Metropole Hotel

Plastic Jesus
Xenia Nikolskaya

is an award-winning Russian-Swedish photographer, curator and educator currently based in Cairo. She has been a curator at the Russian National Centre of Photography (ROSFOTO) and Head of RIA Novosti exhibition department and photo archive. She has taught photography in the Russian Academy of Arts in St. Petersburg and also held academic positions at the American University in Cairo and Rutgers University, New Jersey. Since 2019 she has been teaching photography at the German University in Cairo. A Fulbright fellow, Nikolskaya holds a Ph.D. from the University of Sunderland, UK. Out of the more than 40 international exhibitions in which her work has been showcased, 20 were solo shows. Her works are held in the collection of the State Hermitage Museum in St. Petersburg among other institutions. She is the author of “Dust: Egypt’s Forgotten Architecture” (AUC Press, 2 editions) and, more recently, “The House My Grandfather Built,” which won the Swedish Photobook award in 2021, and editor of “Anatoly Garanin, Soviet Union.”
Plastic Jesus
A collection of photographs of the interiors and exteriors of important Coptic sanctuaries, as well as of artifacts (Christian merchandise), taken by Xenia Nikolskaya from 2006-23 in churches and monasteries around Egypt. They capture the profound connection between Coptic believers and the traditions that have sustained them for centuries. This book is an ode to the fantastic, to the people of Egypt; it is dedicated to the flamboyant glories and over-the-top reminders of our everyday miracles; made by them for them and for us to truly believe what we believe. “Plastic Jesus” book Designed by Eyen Design studio Amman, Jordan and published in April 2025 by KERBER VERLAG, Berlin, Germany

Date
28 April
Opening event 6:30 pm
Address
Fann Wa Chai