Cape Town - The public is invited to a joint photographic exhibition, which forms part of the BRICS Media Forum taking place in Cape Town this week.
The exhibition will be open to the public from Wednesday at 12pm till Friday at the Cape Town International Convention Centre (CTICC).
On Wednesday and Thursday, the BRICS Media Forum will bring together over 180 delegates from Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa, as well as other countries across the African continent. The Forum will celebrate the centenary of the late, Nelson Mandela by looking at what it takes to create an inclusive and just, world order – through media.
For the accompanying exhibition, press photographers from the various countries have been tasked with presenting works that resonate with the Forum’s theme and that best reflect the spirit of Mandela – his life and works – through one of his famous quotes: “What counts in life is not the mere fact that we have lived. It is what difference we have made to the lives of others that will determine the significance of the life we lead.”
Ninety-eight images have been selected for display at the CTICC, before moving to various venues around the country over the course of the next month.
Ian Landsberg, curator of the exhibition and himself an award-winning press photographer, is enthusiastic about the project saying: “It has been quite an eye-opening and deeply introspective experience selecting the works that portray the spirit of co-operation and cross-cultural exchange and learning that promote a better and more integrated world. The interpretations are broad and thought-provoking, and I believe that visitors will gain a different perspective on what it means to ‘make a difference’ in different parts of the globe.”
Some of the works that will be on display include:
- Pictures from China that show how technology has changed the lives of human beings
- Russia’s recent hosting of the soccer World Cup that saw people from all corners of the earth come together as one, for the love of the game
- A collage of photographs submitted by various media agencies depicting tolerance and humanity in strife-torn areas
- Dance, celebration and triumph are themes that run through many of the photographs
- And of course, a selection of images showing Mandela in various facets of his amazing life.
The exhibition is free of charge and members of the public, students, amateur and professional photographers, and anyone who has an appreciation for art, recorded history or photography, are encouraged to attend.
This year's BRICS Media Forum will be hosted by BRICS Business Council chairman and Independent Media executive chairman Dr Iqbal Survé and President of China’s Xinhua News Agency, Cai Mingzhao.
Guest speakers include Minister of Communications Nomvula Mokanyane and Wang Xiaoh, head of the Publicity Department of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee.
Topics which will be discussed include: Strengthening the BRICS narrative: media's role and responsibility; and imagining a shared global future forged by constructive and development journalism: seeking ways to enhance cooperation among the new media in BRICS countries.
The Media Forum is held in tandem with South Africa hosting this year’s BRICS summit, and the BRICS Business Council. The media forum was hosted by China last year.
Survé said the role of BRICS and the BRICS Business Council in carving out a better future for almost half of the world, should not be underestimated and the media has an opportunity to be part of the journey.
“We cannot emphasise enough how important the media is in changing the narrative of the work BRICS countries are doing. There are stories that need to be told, of how alliances and partnerships are being forged to invest across borders, not only in BRICS but also into Africa.
"Stories of how building a road, a bridge or a railway line can change the destiny of people. It creates opportunities for foreign direct investments which, in turn, translate into jobs. Reporting on these developments in an unbiased, factual way, can help change the way we are viewed,” Survé said.
Delegates are expected from The Xinhua News Agency, People's Daily, China Daily, China.org, Chinanet, China Central TV and the Shanghai United Media Group
The Russian contingent includes representatives from Russia Today TV, TV BRICS, Sputnik News Agency and Radio, TASS Russian News Agency and Rossiyskaya Gazeta.
Indian media houses are sending delegates from The Hindu, India Today, The Indian Express, ABP News Network and Indo-Asian News Service. Brazilian media houses CMG Group, Correio Braziliense, Valor Econômico and Monitor Mercantil will attend.
South African media houses include Independent Media, Media24, Mail & Guardian, SABC, Tiso Blackstar and the African News Agency.
In an exciting development, media representatives from Swaziland, Namibia, Zambia, Tanzania, Kenya, Malawi, Uganda, Liberia and Ghana will also be in attendance.
Heads and students of journalism and media faculties from Rhodes, Wits, Stellenbosch, UWC and UCT have been invited as observers.