For a gallery visit focused on the region’s past, try Photographic Encounters along the Gulf Coasts at Sharjah’s Photography Gallery. The permanent display brings together 165 photographs and archival documents from the collection of Sharjah’s ruler, Sheikh Dr Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi.
Look at the coast through early photographs
The exhibition looks at life along the Arabian Gulf and Indian Ocean coasts in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. Glass slides show people, places and activities in a region connected by trade.
Look out for the glass slides and the magic lantern, an early projection device. They offer a way to think about how photographs were shared before screens became part of daily life.
The foundation is still researching the images’ makers, dates and locations. That makes the exhibition a chance to look closely at historical evidence and the questions it leaves open.
Plan your visit to Al Manakh
The collection is in Gallery 1, Photography Gallery, Al Manakh. Entry is free, and advance booking is required. Check the booking page for your preferred visit date.
The foundation’s published venue hours are Saturday to Thursday, 9am–9pm, and Friday, 4pm–9pm.
You can also read about Vantage Point 13, the contemporary photography exhibition in Gallery 2, when planning your visit.
