The Abu Dhabi Arabic Language Centre (ALC) has launched an initiative titled ‘The Image as Witness’, aimed at cementing the role of photographs in strengthening cultural identity. The initiative builds on the power of images to preserve human experiences and cultural memory, while raising awareness about the importance of creating an image archive that documents the remarkable development journey transforming the UAE and its capital, Abu Dhabi.
The initiative seeks to highlight photographs as a tool for cultural documentation alongside the written text. To that end, its agenda includes photography exhibitions and competitions, panel discussions, and cultural seminars, in addition to publishing documentary materials. Together, these activities aim to advance the presence and use of images in the cultural and knowledge landscape, particularly given the growing momentum that photography is gaining in the UAE.
His Excellency Saeed Hamdan Al Tunaiji, Executive Director of the ALC, said: “The image is an important legacy that we must not only preserve and make available to future generations, but also equip them with the skills to read, understand, and grasp its messages, so that this legacy can be transformed into applied knowledge that advances society and drives progress towards a knowledge-based economy.”
“Based on this awareness, and in line with the principles of the ‘Year of the Family’, ‘The Image as Witness’ initiative sought to diversify its activities and engage all segments of the community, with a particular focus on youth,” H.E. Al Tunaiji added. “This reflects our ongoing efforts at the Abu Dhabi Arabic Language Centre to enrich the publishing sector, elevate the value of cultural documentation, and empower a generation of pioneers with a profound awareness of their authentic cultural heritage and the aesthetics of the Arabic language and culture. Moreover, we seek to equip them with the tools of the cultural industries, namely understanding, innovation and the ability to draw on the past to serve the present and shape the future.”
The inaugural edition features a range of activities and programmes, most notably the Photography Competition, which invites participants to document Qasr Al Hosn from different artistic perspectives across four categories: Qasr Al Hosn as an architectural landmark, black-and-white photography, light and shadow, and creative editing using artificial intelligence tools. It also includes an interactive initiative featuring digital Q&A sessions held during the Qasr Al Hosn Festival, aimed at promoting reading and cultural engagement.
‘The Image as Witness’ initiative will also feature panel discussions and cultural seminars with leading photographers and researchers in history and the arts, exploring the role of images in documentation and preserving collective memory, as well as the visual presentation of heritage in a contemporary creative language, and promoting cultural dialogue between the UAE and the world.
The initiative will also organise a photography exhibition titled ‘Layers of Memory’, presenting historical and contemporary images that document Abu Dhabi’s journey and comprehensive development, as well as major cultural and urban transformations, through an interactive display that combines still photography with visual projections. A documentary book featuring the selected images from the initiative is also set to be published.
The Arts Corner at the 35th Abu Dhabi International Book Fair will showcase the initiative’s outputs to visitors allowing them to explore Abu Dhabi’s historical transformations through the images on display. The fair’s accompanying arts programme will organise workshops for youth and researchers interested in photography, along with specialised educational sessions and art exhibitions, in line with the ALC’s vision to nurture an ambitious generation of young photographers.
‘The Image as Witness’ initiative adds to the ALC’s unique photographic collections and the projects it oversees to reinforce the use of images as an effective tool for strengthening cultural identity. Among the most prominent of these is the Illustrated Story category of the Sard Al Thahab Award, which honours creativity in the visual arts, including photography and other related art forms.
Other notable examples include the book series titled ‘Emirati Art – Pioneers Among Us’, which documents significant experiences in Emirati photography. The series features titles such as ‘Between Shadow and Light’, which chronicles the career of Emirati photographer Jassim Rabee Al Awadhi across more than three decades devoted to photography. His work is supported by a distinguished legacy; Al Awadhi comes from a family deeply rooted in the craft of photography, which has enabled him to become one of the leading pioneers of this field in the UAE.
Another distinguished title in the series is ‘An Eye that Captures the Moment’ by prominent Iraqi photographer Karim Sahib, who has enriched the UAE’s photography scene with his diverse works covering various aspects of life in the country, shedding light on culture, traditions, and the beauty of its nature and environment.
The series will be further expanded with five additional titles to be announced at a later stage, documenting the work of some of the most renowned photographers in the history of the UAE. Together, these efforts aim to strengthen the role of photographs in enriching cultural identity, showcasing Abu Dhabi’s cultural and artistic landscape, and affirming its leadership as a sustainable cultural destination.
