the works of photojournalist Cem Ozdel exhibited as part of the Dakar Biennale

the works of photojournalist Cem Ozdel exhibited as part of the Dakar Biennale
the works of photojournalist Cem Ozdel exhibited as part of the Dakar Biennale

AA / Dakar / Fatma Esma Arslan Ozdel

Turkish photojournalist Cem Ozdel presented, this Wednesday at the Senegalese Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture, an exhibition of photographs as part of the 15th biennial of Contemporary African , “Dak’Art”.

The opening of the exhibition entitled “Huzur Sunugaal”, organized in cooperation with the Türkiye Embassy in Dakar, the Yunus Emre Institute in Dakar and the Senegalese Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture, took place in the presence of foreign diplomats, personalities from the world of business, art and sport residing in Dakar.

The exhibition includes 20 photographs taken by Cem Ozdel in Senegal on subjects such as the sea and religion, as well as works by the famous Senegalese sculptor Guibril André Diop.

The opening of the activity was chaired by Bacary Sarr, Secretary of State for Culture, Creative Sectors and Historical Heritage, and Nur Sagman, Ambassador of Türkiye to Senegal.

Bacary Sarr expressed his admiration for the works of the Turkish photographer which, according to him, reflect Senegal as it is.

“Cem’s photographs show us that art has no borders, no language, no format. It was very different and very revealing to look at our own country with new eyes,” he said. he noted.

The Senegalese official said he was impressed by the aerial photography of the mangrove forests of the Sine Saloum delta.

“I was born and raised in this region. As soon as I saw this image, I found my inner child. In all the photographs of the sea, I found this feeling of familiarity and I “I admired the aesthetic of each of them,” added Bacary Sarr.

For her part, Nur Sagman was delighted with the great popularity of Cem Ozdel’s photographs among the Senegalese as well as the large crowds at the opening of the exhibition.

“The Senegalese Ministry of Culture is hosting an exhibition for the first time in its history, and the ministry particularly wanted to exhibit Cem’s photographs, which we were very proud of. We organized this exhibition as part of the Dakar Biennale , the largest contemporary art event in Africa,” she said.

– Senegal, an ideal place for photographers

Cem Ozdel expressed his gratitude to all stakeholders in the organization of the event and expressed his joy at showing Senegal to the Senegalese through the eyes of a Turkish photographer.

“I had some concerns when arriving in Senegal, but after getting to know the Senegalese and the country, I realized that it was an ideal place for a photographer. As a Turkish photojournalist, I tried to transmit what I saw. It is easy to take these photos, but it is not easy to preserve this nature and this culture in our time. I hope that Senegal will manage to preserve these values,” he said. -he said.

He stressed that his 23 years of professional life within the Anadolu Agency had also allowed him to acquire solid experience.

“During my time at Anadolu, I had the chance to visit more than 110 countries, follow countless international events and meet inaccessible personalities. I believe that this exhibition is the result of this unique professional experience” , he added.

Cem Ozdel joined Anadolu in 2001. He gained international notoriety for his reporting on global crises, including the war in Syria and the famine in Darfur. His photographs of miners taken in Zonguldak in 2012 won him numerous national and international awards. He retired from Anadolu in 2023 and settled in Dakar.

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