Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum presents Dubai as 'Visual Museum'

The Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum International Photography Award, HIPA, has announced that the Dubai Photo Exhibition in 2016, its inaugural year, will present a global perspective on photography from 16th to 19th of March, under the patronage of H.H. Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the Crown Prince of Dubai.

The Dubai Photo Exhibition is set to provide a distinctive platform for photography to stand on its own as an art form. For the inaugural edition in 2016, it will present a showcase of museum quality international artworks, which will be held in the Dubai Design District, d3, and supported by the World Photography Organisation, WPO. The exhibition will be supported by a series of public lectures and workshops and a thought-provoking symposium led by the international curators.

Ali Bin Thalith, Secretary-General of HIPA, said, "Since launching in 2011, driven by the vision of H.H. Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the Crown Prince of Dubai, HIPA has aimed to shine a light on artistic photography in the UAE. In March 2016, Dubai Photo Exhibition will bring this goal to life, transforming Dubai into an exceptional "visual museum" which will display artworks by some of the world’s most celebrated photographers, both contemporary and classic. In addition, the public programme running alongside the showcase will help Dubai Photo Exhibition make its mark on the international arts calendar and support Dubai’s vision of becoming a global centre of photography discourse."

Scott Gray, Founder and CEO of the World Photography Organisation, commented, "We are delighted to be able to work on a project that brings together some of the most remarkable work over the last century. An exhibition with this global reach and of this magnitude is unique and an important statement for photography, not just in the exhibition itself, but also by bringing some of the most respected curators from around the world together under one roof."

Mohammad Saeed Al Shehhi, COO of Dubai Design District, said, "We are extremely proud to be hosting the inaugural Dubai Photo Exhibition at d3, which cements Dubai’s position as an international leader for world photography whilst drawing attention to the growing pool of talent within the UAE. At d3, we’re committed to building a community dedicated to supporting creative talents from both the region and across the world and, as such, honoured that Dubai Photo Exhibition will be taking place here."

Dubai Photo Exhibition will bring together artworks from 23 countries, selected by 18 curators, and will celebrate the harmony and diversity of global photography on an unprecedented scale. Guided by the curatorial vision of Head Curator Zelda Cheatle and other world-renowned curators, including Natasha Egan (USA and Canada) and Devika Singh (India), visitors will experience the evolution of photography through a selection of artworks from the 20th and 21st century.

The full list of photographers whose work will be featured in Dubai Photo Exhibition will be announced soon.

The exhibition will be presented in a purpose-built ‘temporary museum’ in Dubai Design District (d3), Dubai’s centre for art and design industries. The design of the exhibition space will be revealed in February.

Dubai Photo Exhibition will be created by HIPA to promote Dubai as a cultural hub, to cultivate artistic appreciation for photography, to foster dialogue locally and internationally, and to nurture photographic excellence through education. Prior to the opening of Dubai Photo Exhibition, HIPA will host its 5th Season Awards Ceremony, "Happiness", on March 14th.