Dubai: Mr. Sheikha Tahnoun bin Zayed Al Nahyan’s wife, Ms. Sheikha Khawla bint Ahmed Khalifa Al Suwaidi, founder of the Khawla Art and Cultural Foundation, expressed her desire to support all forms of artistic and creative talent in the UAE and give them the chance to strengthen their international presence.
Ms. Al Suwaidi stated this during the opening of Ali bin Thalith’s photography exhibition, which was held at the Khawla Art Gallery in the Dubai Design District. Mr. Ali bin Thalith is the Secretary-General of the Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum International Photography Award (HIPA). The event will end on January 28, 2022.
The exhibition was also attended by a number of officials and artists, including Mr. Mohammed Al Murr, the Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Library Foundation, and Adeeb Shaaban, the Secretary-General of the Arab Photographers Union.
According to Sheikha Khawla, the foundation is keen to support Emirati talent and is honouring Ali bin Thalith’s artistic career as one of the most well-known underwater photographers in the world by sponsoring his show.
The exhibition, which includes 46 images, shines a light on a number of outstanding works by Mr. Bin Thalith, in which he photographed a collection of rare aquatic organisms. It also serves as a record of his interest, background, and knowledge of photography.
One of the most well-known underwater photographers, Mr. Ali Bin Thalith has degrees in French Language and Literature from the University of Montpellier in France and Photojournalism and Documentary Photography from the London Academy. Additionally, he has taken part in numerous international photography workshops in France, Dubai, and Britain.
The photographer received the Professional Photographer Leadership Award from the International Photographic Council (IPC) in 2014 for his career work, making him the first Arab and Emirati to receive the coveted award. The most notable publication and the documentary on Mr. Bin Thalith’s resume is the little video Gaza Diver, which tells the story of a teenage amputee’s journey to Dubai for medical care and explores his aspirations.