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Address: Oosterboogcomplex, Oosterstraat 56, Groningen Despite peace treaties (Oslo), peace agreements (Camp David) and Nobel prices for peace (Peres, Arafat), the violent conflict between Israel and the Palestinians is daily headline news. A new series of attacks is answered with a new series of raids, bombs are followed by shootings, these shootings are followed by military besiege and this besiege is followed by bombs again. Violence against violence, these are the ingredients of the present situation, which changes all the time and, at the same time, is not changing at all: It seems to be news and no news at all. In connection with these current events, Noorderlicht organizes an international photo exhibition titled Confronting Views. Nine photographers draw a picture, in diverse series, about the ongoing conflict. Each in their own way shows the present situation and background, the pattern of action and reaction and the weight of history, belief and violence. The photographers who participate are World Press winner Larry Towell (CDN, Magnum), Didier Ben Loulou (IL), Antoine d'Agata (FR), David Sauveur (FR), Harry Cock (NL), Henrik Saxgren (DK),Paolo Pellegrin (I, Magnum), Bruno Stevens (B) and Dinu Mendrea (IL). Confronting Views does not take position, but shows a photographic approach of how to deal with the conflict, ranging from hard news photography to a more figurative interpretation. Because of that, the exhibition is not only an impression of the Israeli-Palestinian confrontation, but also a confrontation of photographic visions. During the exhibition the extended catalogue Confronting Views is released. The catalogue is distributed internationally via Idea Books and can also be ordered at the Noorderlicht office. 'Confronting Views' has embarked on an international tour after its initial showing in Groningen. The show could be seen at the Fotografia festival in Rome, from May 8 through June 22. Before that, the exhibition was on view at the Photographers' Gallery in London, from April 2 through May 5.
The exhibition was opened on Saturday the 20th of July by Mr. Schuiling, alderman and deputy-mayor for the municipality of Groningen. This is the first time that Noorderlicht organizes such a large exhibition outside the regular festival programming. This new location marks the beginning of a new series of large Noorderlicht projects. |
