Photographers and artists in "Exposure"Image, cinema, and architecture are powerful tools capable of making an impact
Sharjah, January 30 / WAM / An elite group of photographers and experts have confirmed that the arts of photography and visual narration are among the most prominent tools of “soft power” in the modern era because of their ability to influence societies, change stereotypes, and enhance cross-border cultural dialogue.
This came during a session entitled “Harnessing Soft Power,” held within the activities of the tenth session of the International Photography Festival “Xposure,” in which Glen Gaynor, CEO of the Hollywood Ventures Group, and Bassam Al-Asaad, a producer and pioneer in filmmaking and organizing festivals, and Aiten Mirzoeva, an architect and partner in Vasconi Architects, spoke.
The speakers discussed how images, cinema, architecture, and visual media contribute to formulating contemporary narratives, building mutual understanding between peoples, and transforming visual creativity into a tool of human and cultural influence that transcends the boundaries of geography and politics.
Glen Gaynor spoke about the pivotal role of stories and images in promoting human understanding and cross-border dialogue, stressing that visual storytelling is one of the most prominent soft power tools capable of changing stereotypical concepts and building bridges between peoples, pointing to the importance of the diversity of visual narratives and their ability to deepen understanding of contemporary issues and convey humanitarian messages that transcend geographical and cultural boundaries.
For his part, Bassam Al-Asaad explained the importance of societies having their own visual narratives, stressing that the absence of self-narration opens the way for others to write the story from a different perspective.
He gave an example of the film “Khor Fakkan” written by His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, Member of the Supreme Council and Ruler of Sharjah, which provided a correction to historical narratives linked to the Portuguese invasion of Khor Fakkan in 1507, explaining that the work constituted a model of accurate narration based on reliable information that differs from prevailing narratives.
For her part, Aiten Mirzoeva spoke about the role of architecture as a visual language and an open dialogue between civilizations and cultures, referring to her upbringing in Azerbaijan, which allowed her to become acquainted with multiple historical and archaeological cities and contributed to shaping her awareness of the importance of architecture as a tool of cultural expression.
Mirzoeva stressed that architecture, along with media and cinema, constitute basic pillars of soft power, as these arts are integrated in creating human interaction within public spaces, explaining that architecture plays a prominent role in tourist and artistic attractions, as their work focuses on buildings that leave a sustainable architectural legacy that tells stories of survival and continuity.
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