Noorderlicht Photofestival/ NAZAR

The Friesian edition of Noorderlicht traditionally has been devoted to photography from a non-Western region. After events showcasing African and Latin American photography (Africa Inside, 2000, and Mundos Creados, 2002), in 2004 Noorderlicht focuses on photography from the Arab world.

In the West, the Arab world has become synonymous with confrontation and violence. Terrorist attacks, the war in Iraq, the conflict between Israel and the Palestinians, and that between modernists and Moslem fundamentalists: these dominate the front pages of our newspapers daily.

But how representative is that image for a region that extends from Morocco in the west to Oman in the east, from Syria in the north to Sudan in the south? And how does the way those within this region see themselves relate to how the region is seen from outside? In other words: how do Arab photographers look at their society and themselves?

What is hidden behind the headlines and the breaking news? That is the question that is at the heart of Nazar, a photographic triptych that is to be seen at the Fries Museum, Museum Het Princessehof and De Manege.

In more than 900 contemporary and historic photographs, Nazar - Arabic for seeing, insight, reflection - challenges our image of a world that we thought we knew.

At the same time, with the contributions of more than 25 Arab photographers, virtually none of whom have ever before shown in the Netherlands, Nazar provides a unique image of the quality and diversity of contemporary Arab photography.

Never before has this photography been illuminated in such a comprehensive way in the West.

Pressetext

11th Noorderlicht Photofestival 2004
NAZAR
photography from and about the Arab countries
Noorderlicht Photography

mit Tarek Al-Ghoussein, Nadia Benchallal, Hicham Benohoud, Paul Blackmore, Bruno Boudjejal, Nabil Boutros, Alison Bradley, Matthias Bruggmann, Omar D., Denis Dailleux, Wouter Deruytter, Lalla Essaydi, Hala Elkoussy, Reem Al Faisal, Ymane Fakhir, Marc Garanger, Rawi Hage, Rula Halawani, Farida Hamak, Gaston Zvi Ickovicz, Monique Jacot , Ahmed Jadallah, Ed Kashi, Thomas Kneubühler, Zbigniew Kosc, Jeroen Kramer, Benjamin Lowy, Lehnert & Landrock, Diana Matar, Youssef Nabil, Annette den Oude , Max Pam, Paolo Pellegrin, Randa Shaath, Kryn Taconis, Lars Tunbjörk, Ilkka Uimonen, Van Leo

Stationen:
05.09.04 - 24.10.04 Noorderlicht Photography, Groningen
02.12.05 - 29.01.06 Gallery of Photography, Dublin
25.02.06 - 25.04.06 Q Arts Gallery, Derby
25.05.05 - 31.07.05 Langhans Galerie, Prag