'A photograph is not a silent frame, it is a full narrative that forms identity'

MUSCAT: The Cultural Club in Al Qurum hosted Bahraini photographer, visual artist, and architect Mahdi bin Taher al Jallawi on Monday. He delivered a lecture titled “Visions Captured: From the Memory of Cities to the Identity of Nations.” The event drew a diverse Arab audience, reflecting a shared interest in visual arts, cultural documentation, and the dialogue between image and identity.
Al Jallawi described knowledge-sharing as an artistic responsibility. “Sharing knowledge is a duty, and everywhere I go, I try to leave a trace that benefits others.” He went on to explain that photography, in his view, is more than a nice picture; it tells a story that brings people together and strengthens their connection to their country, saying, “A photograph is not a silent frame; it is a full narrative that forms identity.”
He guided the audience through the evolution of his artistic journey, beginning with documenting streets, markets and social life in Bahrain, which became the basis for his photo book “Manama'. He explained how a photograph can become a historical record when it is presented in a planned and organised way that preserves the essence of place and time.
The artist then highlighted his unique experience in having some of his photographs transformed into official postage stamps in Bahrain, explaining that this allowed imagery to “travel before its creator', becoming, as he described, “a small message crossing the world and carrying the features of the homeland.”
The lecture reached an important moment when he spoke about his role in designing the first Bahraini digital passport, a project that took a full year of confidential work before it was announced. He described how it felt to see his artwork printed inside the passport for the first time, saying, “It was a great honour at this age, because the passport represents every Bahraini around the world.” He said the artwork allows the passport to map Bahrain’s journey, from Dilmun to modern times, carrying its heritage into the future.
He spoke about the idea behind his work, quoting the Russian novelist Fyodor Dostoevsky’s words, “Beauty will save the world.” He said this reflects his own mission, “to present beauty, because photographs remind people of what is worth seeing.” He also highlighted the need to train young photographers to preserve visual heritage as a shared duty.
The evening concluded with an engaging discussion, where attendees spoke about how images can shape memory and identity, noting that the lecture offered an inspiring view that connects art, belonging and the story of place.