Texture of the Creek

Background

Together with my colleagues at Analog Photography in the UAE I helped organise the Texture of the Creek activity. Over a nine month period, 18 photographers, all resident in the UAE, but from all over the world, made over 250 images of Dubai’s creek-side areas in Bur Dubai and Deira.

Throughout 2017 and 2018 we arranged photowalks, and ran darkroom sessions. Tashkeel, a Dubai arts foundation provided their darkroom and Tashkeel House at the Al Fahidi Historic District for the exhibition.

Texture of the Creek - Image 11
Installation
Texture of the Creek - Image 10
Michael Glenister unwrapping images

The brief for Texture of the Creek was simple – to capture the shapes and textures of old Dubai, but remain within the cultural norms of the UAE. In order to comply with the strict laws on publication of images, the participants were encouraged to concentrate on creating an abstract body of work.

The Texture of the Creek exhibition

Fourteen of these images were selected for exhibition as part of the Sikka Week celebration that ran alongside the Dubai Arts Festival in March 2018. This exhibition enabled artists and photographers who would otherwise not have had gallery access to create an amazingly well received exhibition.

My images

Three of my own images were selected for the Texture of the Creek exhibition.

Texture of the Creek - Image 03
Still life Soice Souk
Texture of the Creek - Image 01
Deira building
Texture of the Creek - Image 02
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Participating Photographers

The photographers who participated came from all over the world, and ranged from amateurs to professional photographers . For many of the them it was their first chance to see their work on a gallery wall.