Doha, Qatar – In its third and most poignant edition yet, the Tasweer Photo Festival Qatar 2025 opens its doors to the public, offering a profound visual journey into the concept of belonging. Spearheaded by Qatar Museums, the biennial photography festival continues to establish itself as a leading platform for contemporary lens-based art in the Arab world.
This year’s festival unfolds across five venues, with eight powerful exhibitions featuring the works of 88 artists from the West Asia and North Africa (WANA) region. It is a collective meditation on identity, place, and memory—curated with a humanist eye and artistic depth. Anchoring the festival is the lead exhibition, As I Lay Between Two Seas, held at the Fire Station: Artist in Residence, curated by new Artistic Director Meriem Berrada.
A Festival Rooted in Collective Memory and Personal Narratives
The theme of “belonging” serves as the conceptual heart of this year’s Tasweer edition. It is not a monolithic idea, but a tapestry of overlapping stories—rooted in family, nation, displacement, memory, and resistance. Through a range of media—from photography to video installations and archival assemblages—the exhibitions reflect the emotional, political, and spiritual weight of belonging in today’s fragmented world.
“It was essential to represent a plurality of perspectives on belonging,” says Meriem Berrada, who curated As I Lay Between Two Seas. “Each artist reclaims their narrative, exploring what it means to belong when your identity is constantly shifting between memory, movement, and imagination.”
From powerful photo essays about migration and war to intimate portrayals of home and heritage, Tasweer 2025 invites viewers to experience life through the creative lens of a generation shaped by resilience and rootedness.
As I Lay Between Two Seas: The Anchor Exhibition
Featuring 25 artists, As I Lay Between Two Seas is the festival’s centerpiece, exploring identity as fluid and evolving. The title is inspired by Bahraini photographer Ali Al Shehabi, whose personal story of discovering his roots at the age of 26 serves as a metaphor for rediscovery, displacement, and connection.
The exhibition spans multiple formats—from traditional photography to multimedia installations—revealing the diverse ways artists interpret identity and origin. Whether born in the region or part of the Arab diaspora, these creators examine the space between places, time, and memory.
Among the featured artists are those exploring themes of intergenerational trauma, hybrid cultural identity, and the reclamation of narratives previously shaped by external forces.
Daoud Aoulad Syad: A Monographic Exhibition of Moroccan Mastery
Held at Mathaf: Arab Museum of Modern Art until July 10, Territories of the Instant is a career-defining monographic exhibition for Moroccan photographer Daoud Aoulad Syad—his first solo show in the region. The exhibition reveals a poetic and deeply personal interpretation of Moroccan landscapes and culture, rich in both nostalgia and new perspectives.
Through Syad’s lens, viewers glimpse rural life, sacred spaces, and vernacular architecture—imbued with silence, stillness, and sensitivity. His work stands as both a visual diary and a cultural archive, capturing Morocco’s spirit with elegance and authenticity.
Obliteration—Surviving the Inferno: Gaza’s Battle for Existence
Among the most searing and timely exhibitions is Obliteration, curated by Dr. Bahaaeldin Abudaya. Staged across five outdoor installations, the exhibit documents the devastation of Gaza in the wake of the ongoing humanitarian crisis post-October 7.
Through visceral photography and emotionally charged sequences, Obliteration is not just a record of war—it is a demand for recognition, justice, and dignity. Gaza’s longstanding history as a symbol of resistance within the Arab consciousness is reframed here on a global stage, confronting viewers with questions about humanity, colonialism, and the collective right to belong.
After the Game and the Universal Language of Football
Curated by Khalifa Al Obaidly, After the Game draws on the emotional resonance of football as a metaphor for unity, aspiration, and identity. The images document the moments of euphoria and heartbreak that bind fans and communities alike. It’s a tender yet powerful reflection on how sport shapes belonging—whether at home or far from it.
The Tasweer Awards: Nurturing a New Generation of Arab Photographers
The Tasweer Awards 2023 and 2024 exhibitions highlight new and emerging talents from Egypt, Morocco, Qatar, and beyond. Curated by Sheikha Maryam Hassan Al Thani, these shows celebrate photographers who challenge visual norms and bring lesser-seen stories to the surface.
More than a prize, the Tasweer Awards provide a platform for mentorship, creative growth, and international exposure. As Berrada notes, “It’s about more than financial support—it’s about long-term impact. We’re investing in careers and communities.”
For future editions, the festival aims to expand its outreach and include mentorship, publishing support, and professional development resources for rising artists across the region.
Programming Beyond the Gallery Walls
In addition to exhibitions, Tasweer 2025 offers a robust public program that includes:
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Symposia and Artist Talks
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Photography Masterclasses
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Workshops for Emerging Creatives
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Portfolio Reviews and Networking Opportunities
These events are open to the public and designed to foster dialogue, skill-sharing, and community building within the lens-based art ecosystem.
Festival Dates and Venues
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Festival Duration: April 20 – June 20, 2025
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Extended Exhibition: Daoud Aoulad Syad at Mathaf until July 10, 2025
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Venues: Fire Station: Artist in Residence, Mathaf: Arab Museum of Modern Art, and various public outdoor locations in Doha
Shaping the Future of Arab Photography
With this third edition, Tasweer Photo Festival Qatar 2025 confirms its vital role in shaping the narrative of Arab photography for both local and international audiences. It is a festival that not only celebrates artistry but also catalyzes deeper discussions around culture, displacement, and self-representation.
Through diverse voices and innovative visual languages, Tasweer continues to cultivate a space where Arab stories can be seen, heard, and felt—in their full complexity and beauty.
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