Leading a significant life
PHOTOGRAPHERS from BRICS countries will showcase their work which best reflects the spirit of Nelson Mandela and resonates with the BRICS Media Forum’s theme.
About 180 delegates from Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa, as well as countries across the African continent will attend the forum in Cape Town today and tomorrow.
The forum expected to be the biggest one yet, with last year’s held in China, will be hosted by Cai Mingzhao, President of Chinese News Agency, Xinhua News, and Independent Media Chairman Dr Iqbal Survé, who is also the Chairperson of the BRICS Business Council. Among the speakers are Minister of Communication, Nomvula Mokonyane, Survé, Cai and deputy head of the Publicity Department of the Communist Party of China, Wang Xiaohui.
The forum is themed: “BRICS Media Co-operation – Fostering an Inclusive, Just World Order”.
The exhibition was curated to reflect Madiba’s life and work – 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.”
The exhibition, which is free, consists of 98 images selected for display at the Cape Town International Convention Centre from 12pm before moving to various venues around the country over the course of the next month.
Curator Ian Landsburg said: “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 show how technology has changed human lives;
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;
Russia’s recent hosting of the soccer World Cup which saw people from all corners of the globe come together as one, for the love of the game;
A selection of images showing Mandela in various facets of his life.