A poignant exploration of belonging and identity
Now in its third edition, the Tasweer Photography Festival 2025, which opened on April 20th in Doha, Qatar, is a compelling convergence of art, social reflection, and identity exploration. Organized by Qatar Museums, this festival offers an immersive experience into the rich cultural and artistic diversity of the Arab world and beyond. Running through June 20th, the festival invites the public on a powerful and multifaceted visual journey through eight major exhibitions held across five iconic venues in the Qatari capital.
The central theme of this edition belonging acts as a guiding thread, weaving together artworks that question, challenge, and deepen our understanding of both personal and collective identity. With over 88 participating artists, mainly from the Arab world and its diasporas, the festival showcases outstanding talents who explore this theme from diverse perspectives and through a wide range of media. Each exhibition offers a rich and contemporary visual reflection on how identity is shaped by culture, history, geography, and global events.
Highlights of the Festival…
One of the most anticipated exhibitions of the season is “As I Lay Between Two Seas”, hosted at the Fire Station: Artist in Residence. This collective project brings together 25 artists in a poetic and visual reflection on identity. The featured works express a plurality of perspectives on belonging, exploring themes such as exile, migration, and profound ties to one’s homeland.
Another must-see is the retrospective “Daoud Aoulad Syad, Territories of the Instant”. The Moroccan photographer and filmmaker presents over three decades of work, offering an immersive dive into the fleeting moments he captures—often rooted in landscapes and everyday life scenes that explore Moroccan identity in a globalized context. His photography blends raw realism with visual poetry, capturing the essence of a world in flux.
“Obliteration – Surviving the Inferno: Gaza’s Battle for Existence” stands out for its deeply moving and politically engaged stance. Created in collaboration with the Photo Humanity Grant, this exhibition offers a stark look at the war in Gaza and the resilience of its people. The haunting images document not only the horrors of conflict but also the human strength to endure. It powerfully questions the notion of belonging in a context of violence and loss.
In parallel, the “Refractions: Tasweer Project Awards” section showcases winning works from previous Tasweer Award editions (2023 and 2024). This selection highlights emerging voices in contemporary Arab photography, addressing social, political, and cultural issues through striking imagery.
“Threads of Light: Stories from the Tasweer Single Image Awards” brings together 32 outstanding photographs from the Single Image Awards, representing 12 countries from the Arab world and beyond. Each image tells a story—a life fragment, a unique worldview—honoring the narrative power of a single frame.
The work of Khalid Al-Musallamany, featured in the “Al-Mihrab” exhibition, provides an intimate and spiritual exploration of places of worship in Qatar. This photographic series invites viewers on a journey through the country’s religious traditions while exploring how these sacred spaces shape spiritual identity and belonging.
The Tasweer Photography Festival 2025 is more than just an art event it is an invitation to reflect on the contemporary world through the lens of belonging. With its wide-ranging exhibitions addressing war, cultural identity, tradition, and modernity, the festival captures the essence of today’s Arab society while amplifying the voices of artists who redefine what it means to “belong” in a globalized world.
In its 2025 edition, Tasweer stands as a vibrant platform for dialogue where art becomes a mirror of society, and a powerful tool for transformation and awareness. An unmissable experience for anyone wishing to dive deep into contemporary Arab photography.
