Photographer, art director, and cultural consultant Maitha Hamdan stated that the visual image is no longer merely an aesthetic expression but has become a cultural responsibility. She emphasized that this responsibility touches upon the representation of identity and the shaping of awareness, stressing that every visual work aimed at an audience carries a message that transcends form to reveal deeper meaning.
These remarks were made during a session titled "Beyond the Image: Photography as a Cultural Responsibility," moderated by media professional Abdulraouf Amira. The event was part of the tenth edition of the Exposure Photography Festival, currently taking place in the Aljada district of Sharjah.
Hamdan highlighted the professional framework of visual work, explaining that the director forms the cornerstone of any production. All artistic departments fall under this leadership, primarily art direction, which manages colors, decor, and costumes to build a visual scene that serves the work's dramatic or narrative nature.
She clarified the role of the cultural consultant as a complement to this structure, especially for productions created externally or representing a specific culture to an international audience. She noted that this role involves studying the work from various artistic and cultural angles to ensure harmony with the identity it reflects, going beyond simple review.
Regarding her career, she noted that moving between various fields, including fashion projects, helped refine her visual vision. She focused on studying Emirati heritage and transforming it into visual elements with a clear identity capable of reaching a global audience.
The session concluded with a showcase of a visual experience she executed for Expo 2020 Dubai. Tasked with embodying the decline of the pearl trade due to the emergence of oil, she used a symbolic shot of a black liquid engulfing pearls. This dense visual scene conveyed the concept without the need for direct speech.
