{"id":211600,"date":"2019-03-29T17:46:24","date_gmt":"2019-03-29T20:46:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/anba.com.br\/?p=211600"},"modified":"2019-06-30T16:31:27","modified_gmt":"2019-06-30T19:31:27","slug":"photography-exhibition-shows-plurality-of-the-arab-world","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/anba.com.br\/en\/photography-exhibition-shows-plurality-of-the-arab-world\/","title":{"rendered":"Photography exhibition shows plurality of the Arab world"},"content":{"rendered":"

S\u00e3o Paulo \u2013 The exhibition \u201cTaswir, a fotografia \u00e1rabe contempor\u00e2nea<\/a>\u201d (Taswir, contemporary Arab photography) presents a look on the plurality of the whole Arab world, according to participants in the show opening ceremony, which occurred last Thursday (28) night at Instituto Tomie Ohtake<\/a> in S\u00e3o Paulo. The event brings together works by 14 photographers from 12 countries and runs to April 28.<\/p>\n

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Hannun: cultural cooperation is one of the Arab Brazilian Chamber\u2019s foundations<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The exhibition celebrates the Arab Community Day in Brazil, March 25, and the 74th<\/sup> anniversary of the League of Arab States. \u201cWe have a lot to celebrate,\u201d said the Arab Brazilian Chamber of Commerce<\/a><\/strong> president Rubens Hannun. The Arab Brazilian Chamber promotes the show together with the Arab World Institute (AWI<\/a>) in Paris. The images are part of AWI\u2019s collection.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe are approximately 12 million [Arabs and descendants] that live in perfect harmony with the Brazilian society,\u201d stressed Hannun. \u201cWe’ve contributed to Brazil\u2019s development in almost every sector,\u201d he added. He pointed out that there are no cities in Brazil without someone that talks in Arabic or when you can\u2019t find a sfiha or a kibbeh in some stablishment.\u201d<\/p>\n

Commercially, Hannun reported that 22 Arab countries represent the second largest market of Brazilian agribusiness. \u201cIn return, Brazil receives products vital for agribusiness,\u201d he said, referring to fertilizers, which are one of the main items Arab nations export to Brazil.<\/p>\n

The executive declared, however, that the partnerships between Brazil and the Arab world must be furthered in some key areas. \u201cLike we did with AWI in the cultural area,\u201d he said. The Arab Brazilian Chamber signed a cooperation agreement with the French institute and this photo exhibition is the first product of this partnership. \u201cThis is a path that really contributes to mutual knowledge and we are already talking with Mario [Chouery]<\/a> about other exhibitions in Brazil and, why not, Brazilian exhibitions at AWI,\u201d he said. Chouery is responsible for taking AWI exhibitions abroad and was at the opening of Taswir, which is the first AWI show in Latin America.<\/p>\n

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Ricardo Ohtake said this is the first Arab exhibition at the institute<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

For Hannun, cultural cooperation is one of the foundations of the Arab Brazilian Chamber\u2019s work, \u201cbecause it supports a permanent trade relation.\u201d \u201cThe exhibition Taswir sheds a light on the whole Arab world,\u201d he stressed. \u201cIt helps understand a society\u2019s reality,\u201d he concluded.<\/p>\n

Instituto Tomie Ohtake president Ricardo Ohtake stressed this is the first time the institute receives an exhibition from the Arab countries, but he pointed out that the cultural interchange between Brazil and that region has occurred \u201cfor several decades.\u201d He reminded, for example, the projects made by the Brazilian architect Oscar Niemeyer in Algeria and Lebanon.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis interchange between Instituto Tomie Ohtake and the Arab Brazilian Chamber was possible thanks to my brother, who signed the project<\/a> for the Chamber\u2019s office at Paulista Avenue,\u201d he said, referring to the architect Rui Ohtake, who designed not only the entity\u2019s facilities but also the building where it is located in S\u00e3o Paulo. \u201cIt is a great interchange, and I\u2019ve already been told other Arab exhibitions will occur here,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

Faith, enthusiasm and passion<\/strong><\/p>\n

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Pont: exhibition shows plurality of the Arab world<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

AWI president Jack Lang, France\u2019s former minister of Culture, recorded a video specially for the occasion, which was shown at the opening. \u201cWe hope this event will be a huge success and lead us to multiply the initiatives between Brazil and the Arab World Institute,\u201d he declared. He praised the Arab Brazilian Chamber and Instituto Tomie Ohtake for working with \u201cfaith, enthusiasm and passion.\u201d<\/p>\n

French general-consul in S\u00e3o Paulo, Brieuc Pont, highlighted the show\u2019s extent. \u201cThis is a magnificent, ambitious exhibition because it brings together artists that represent the plurality of the Arab world,\u201d he said. \u201cWhat could be more significant to mark the Arab Community Day?\u201d he pointed out.<\/p>\n

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Djeddaoui besides his work \u2018The ogre\u2019s daughter\u2019<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

One of the artists, the French-Algerian Lazare Mohamed Djeddaoui<\/a>, was at the opening ceremony. He made a series inspired in tales from Syria and the Levant region.<\/p>\n

For the acting municipal secretary of Foreign Relations Rodrigo Massi, the show \u201cillustrates in a remarkable way the Arab presence in S\u00e3o Paulo city.\u201d \u201cMay this exhibition be the first of many, and the city will keep supporting initiatives from the Arab countries,\u201d he stated.<\/p>\n

The ambassador of the Arab League in Brazil, Qais Marouf Kheiro Shqair, highlighted the importance of the Arab Brazilian Chamber\u2019s work to fulfill the growth potential of the relations between Brazil and the Arab nations. He pointed out the League was founded in March 22, 1945, then with seven countries. Now there are 22. Hannun highlighted the multilateral entity is represented in Brazil since 1954.<\/p>\n

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Shqair highlighted the importance of the Arab Brazilian Chamber<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The dean of the Council of Arab Ambassadors in Brazil and Palestinian ambassador Ibrahim Alzeben pointed out that Arabs started migrating to Brazil more than 145 years ago and praised the show. \u201cThe Arab Brazilian Chamber works with the same creativity that has always been present in its constant pursue to defend Arab interests in Brazil,\u201d he stressed. He considered the show presents \u201cthe essence of the Arab civilization.\u201d<\/p>\n

Friendship<\/strong><\/p>\n

The ambassador talked about diplomatic relations with Brazil now. \u201cWe did and will do everything in our hands so that Brazil keeps being a friendly country and that the Arab countries keep being friends with Brazil,\u201d stressed Alzeben. \u201cPolitics may change, but the countries still exist: 57 invasions went through Palestine and Palestine still exists,\u201d he declared.<\/p>\n

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Alzeben: politics may change, but the countries still exist<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The ambassador added that East Jerusalem is the Palestinian capital but will always be free to all. \u201cWe won\u2019t accept any violation against our sovereignty from whoever or wherever it may be. Friends don\u2019t attack Palestine, Arabs or Muslims,” he concluded.<\/p>\n

In his speech, Ricardo Ohtake said he felt \u201cvery honored\u201d to meet the Palestinian representative. \u201cHe (Alzeben) told me: \u2018We will survive.\u2019 And I want to say that here in Brazil, despite our current situation, we will also survive,\u201d he stated.<\/p>\n

Translated by Guilherme Miranda<\/strong><\/p>\n

Jack Lang talks about the exhibition:<\/strong><\/p>\n