Raniaa halawani، كاتب في Shahennews Eng

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Image Festival Amman 2026 Concludes with Historic First Participation of Mexico

shahennews Image Festival Amman 2026 concluded this evening with a reception at MMAG Foundation attended by renowned photographer Bob Schalkwijk, who traveled from Mexico to participate in the festival through his exhibition Tarahumara, a public lecture, and the closing ceremony. The event marked the conclusion of the festival’s 14th edition and celebrated the first-ever participation of Mexican photographers, made possible through the collaboration of the Embassy of Mexico in Jordan and Almanaque Fotográfica. Organized by Darat Al Tasweer since 2011 in partnership with numerous Jordanian and international institutions, Image Festival Amman has become one of the leading photography festivals in the Middle East and the Arab world. Each year it brings together internationally renowned photographers alongside emerging talents, creating a platform where younger generations can learn directly from established artists while fostering dialogue, professional exchange and lasting cultural cooperation. Under the theme “Behind the Scenes,” this year’s edition featured 28 exhibitions, a book launch and a series of professional workshops organized in partnership with the Abdul Hameed Shoman Foundation. Mexico was represented through three exhibitions by photographers from three generations, offering audiences a broad perspective on the richness and diversity of contemporary Mexican photography. Bob Schalkwijk presented Tarahumara, a remarkable visual chronicle of more than six decades documenting the Rarámuri people of northern Mexico. Yolanda Andrade —who also traveled from Mexico to participate in the festival— exhibited Life Goes On, while Persia Campbell presented Liminal Spaces, bringing a contemporary perspective shaped by life along the Mexico–United States border. Throughout the festival, Bob Schalkwijk also met with photographers, students and photography enthusiasts, sharing insights from a career spanning more than six decades. The presence of Bob Schalkwijk and Yolanda Andrade, together with Persia Campbell’s exhibition, offered Jordanian audiences an unprecedented opportunity to discover three distinct voices spanning three generations of Mexican photography. Speaking during the closing reception, Ambassador Jacob Prado highlighted the significance of Mexico’s participation, noting that it reflects the growing cultural relationship between Mexico and Jordan and demonstrates the richness and diversity of Mexican photography across generations. The Embassy of Mexico expresses its gratitude to Image Festival Amman, Darat Al Tasweer and Almanaque Fotográfica, the participating artists and everyone who contributed to making Mexico’s first participation in the festival a memorable success and the beginning of future cultural collaborations.

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