Gulf College holds French Photo expo

MUSCAT: Gulf College ( GC) through its Centre for Languages and Cultural Studies (CLCS) and in partnership with the Centre Franco Omanais (CFO) recently unveiled the French Photo Exhibition titled Dans ses Yeux (In his/ her eyes) recently at the grand GC Reception Hall in Mabelah.

Clement Moutel, the Counsellor for Cultural Cooperation of the French Embassy in Oman attended the event. He was accompanied by Narjes Krichen, the Lady-in-Charge of Cultural Mission and Dr Mohaned Al Obaidi, GC Deputy Dean for Academic Affairs and Scientific Research as he cut the ribbon to officially open the exhibition.

Enriching the cultural experience of the people present in the ceremony, Christian Adam de Villiers, CFO Director, shared the biography of Dominique Baudis, the French photographer who took the 30 photos on display dating back to the 1970s when he was a Press Correspondent for TF1 based in Beirut cover- ing the Middle East and NorthEast Africa. The black and white photographs are breathtakingly beautiful making most viewers think they are paintings that can be purchased.

Such a rare chance of viewing magnificent pictures has immersed the thoughts of the viewers into the ancient cultures of Oman, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Iran, Abu Dhabi, Syria, Kuwait, Sudan and Eritrea. Remarkably observed is the dress culture of Omani women, which has been preserved as, witnessed by expatriates seeing Bedouin women in Sinaw during flea market days still wearing the same traditional dress complemented with native masks.

This photo exhibition shows explicitly the heightened Omani-French interconnectedness at Gulf College reinforced by French language classes, which are to start on October 22 to equip the students with linguistic knowledge and skills indispensable for their global career paths.