South African photographer Brent Stirton is a daring and passionate human being committed to issues relating to wildlife and conservation, global health, diminishing cultures and all other stories that are usually found embedded in some of the most dangerous and sometimes life-threatening environments. It’s a profession that has often cost people their lives.

 

The works of this multiple award-winning and globally recognised documentary photographer at the Sharjah International Photography Festival Xposure 2017 testify to his burning passion to get the dark truths about humanity out there in the world, come what may.

 

Stirton’s raw portrait of a rhino killed by poachers, which named him the ‘2017 Wildlife Photographer of the Year’, is a lifelike image of the black rhinoceros that was killed poached for its horn with high-calibre bullets at a water hole in South Africa’s Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Park, and evokes a myriad of emotions – from irrational rage to a strong sense of helplessness. This, and other harrowing images of the carnage left behind by illegal hunting for rhino horns, is part of a collection of his works that are exhibited at the four-day Festival in Expo Centre Sharjah.

 

Brent has also documented the largest mass killing of elephants recorded in recent history at the Bouba Ndjida National Park in North Cameroon, which happened in March 2012. His photo of the carcasses of dead, decaying elephants is a hair-raising representation of over 650 elephants that were killed in the incident for their ivory.

 

 

 

 

 

One feels perplexed and exasperated touring around the Brent Stirton exhibition, and we find ourselves asking, “why the unstoppable global environmental crises?” It all makes sense when at the other end of the spectrum one sees the image of a wealthy Vietnamese woman grinding a rhino horn as a source of ancient medicine, or a photo of a $400,000 Buddhist ivory carving in the making at a state-owned Chinese facility; images that represent humanity’s blatant disregard for anyone but themselves.  

 

Stirton is at Xposure 2017 to sensitise community about these pressing issues.  Living in an age where the world is more connected than ever, he sees a tremendous potential to arrive at a common value system for our planet and for all of the earth’s inhabitants. Through a series of interactions at the Festival, he aims to challenge humans to think deeper about issues facing our planet.         

 

Don’t miss his exhibition and dozens more at the current edition of Xposure, which will be one of your best cultural and educational outings in the UAE this season. 

 

Brent Stirton is a Senior Photographer for Getty Images, based in New York. His award-winning work has been widely recognised for its powerful depiction of issues related to conflict, health, and environmental issues.

 

Xposure 2017 is an outstanding platform for lovers of the visual language. It is a celebration of global perspectives, and gives people in the UAE a chance to view the world through some of the bravest, kindest, and most creatively discerning eyes.   

 

The second edition of the Festival, organised by Sharjah Government Media Bureau (SGMB), runs until Saturday, November 25, at Expo Centre Sharjah. A high profile event, featuring a gathering of 32 of the world’s most celebrated photographers, is expected to spark a region-wide engagement and inspiration.  

 

To learn more about the festival, please visit www.xposure.ae and social networking platforms by using #xposurexpf.

 

-ENDS-

 

 

Photocaptions:

1)    During the exhibitions of Brent Stirton’s photos at Xposure 2017

2)    During the exhibitions of Brent Stirton’s photos at Xposure 2017

3)    During the exhibitions of Brent Stirton’s photos at Xposure 2017

4)    “Rhino Wars” by Brent Stirton

5)    Brent Stirton