His Highness Sheikh Sultan bin Ahmed bin Sultan Al Qasimi, Deputy Ruler of Sharjah and Chairman of the Sharjah Media Council, has inaugurated a major photography exhibition in Athens, Greece. The exhibition is titled “Life, Death, & Everything in Between” by world-famous photographer Sir Don McCullin.
The event is organised by the Athens Photo World Awards in partnership with the Xposure International Photography Festival, an annual global photography platform organised by the Sharjah Government Media Bureau.
Exhibition Tour and Highlights
During the visit, Sheikh Sultan toured the exhibition galleries and reviewed key works from McCullin’s long career, which spans over five decades. The displayed photographs include powerful images from conflict zones such as Vietnam, Cambodia, and Lebanon, along with peaceful landscapes from England, Africa, India, and Indonesia.
He praised the strong humanitarian message in McCullin’s work, which shows both human suffering and resilience with deep emotional impact.
Life, Death, and Human Stories
The exhibition presents a visual journey of McCullin’s career. It begins with his early work in poor areas of London, moves through war and conflict photography, and ends with peaceful and natural scenes. His photography is known for capturing real human emotions and difficult global realities.
Sir Don McCullin is widely respected as one of the greatest documentary photographers in the world. Over his career, he has covered wars, crises, and humanitarian issues, often working in dangerous conditions. Despite injuries and risks, he continued his work with strong dedication to truth and humanity.
Global Cultural Collaboration
The partnership between Xposure International Photography Festival and Athens Photo World Awards highlights the importance of photography in documenting truth and human life. It also reflects Xposure’s growing global reputation as a leading platform for visual storytelling.
Permanent Exhibition in Greece
In a special announcement, it was shared that McCullin’s exhibition will become a permanent display at the MOMus–Thessaloniki Museum of Photography in Greece, preserving his legacy for future generations.
Special Gift Presentation
On this occasion, Sheikh Sultan also presented Sir Don McCullin with a special limited-edition Leica “Monochrom” camera. The camera carries the name and emblem of Sharjah and was created exclusively for the Xposure Photography Festival.
Visit to Acropolis Museum
Sheikh Sultan also visited the Acropolis Museum in Athens, where he toured its galleries and learned about its history and archaeological importance.
The museum is among the world’s leading archaeological museums, covering over 25,000 square metres and housing more than 4,000 artefacts from the Classical and Roman eras.
Its collections are divided into three sections: daily life in ancient Athens, sculptures from the Parthenon, and Classical masterpieces such as the famous Caryatid statues.
The museum is also known for its modern architectural design, glass floors with views of the Acropolis, and advanced lighting systems that help preserve and display ancient marble artworks.
