Two Exhibitions Document Umm Kulthum’s Concerts in Paris and the Legacy of Egyptian Cinema Through the Lens of Bakr
The second edition of El Gouna Photo Week will place a special emphasis on photography as a means of preserving cultural memory and documenting artistic and human experiences. Through a diverse programme of photographic exhibitions spanning music, cinema, heritage, and everyday life, the event brings together documentary photography and contemporary artistic perspectives.
Taking place in El Gouna from December 3 to 12, 2026, the programme will invite audiences to discover stories, personalities, and places through the lens, presenting photography as a form of visual storytelling rather than simply a record of moments in time.
Among the featured exhibitions is Umm Kulthum in Paris, which connects the legacy of one of the most iconic figures in the history of Arabic music with the art of photography. The exhibition revisits the concerts performed by the legendary Egyptian singer in the French capital, documenting moments from her stage appearances and the audience’s engagement with her performances. Together, these images reflect the extraordinary standing she achieved in the world of Arabic music.
Captured by a number of photographers, the photographs offer audiences an opportunity to rediscover a chapter of Umm Kulthum’s artistic journey through a visual perspective. The images become historical documents that preserve the memory of her concerts and evoke the atmosphere of these memorable musical encounters. The exhibition also celebrates photography’s role in safeguarding musical and cultural heritage and introducing it to new generations.
“We wanted photography to have a space in which to tell the story of music and art, because photographs have the power to bring back to life the figures who have left a lasting mark on the public’s collective consciousness and to open up new conversations about their cultural legacy,” said Marwa Aboul Leila, Executive Director of El Gouna Photo Week, Co-Founder and Executive Director of Photopia.
The exhibition programme also includes a project dedicated to the memory of Egyptian cinema through the work of Mohamed Bakr Studio, highlighting the longstanding relationship between photography and the documentation of the history of the seventh art, its stars, and its defining moments.
Photographer Mohamed Bakr’s exhibition explores a chapter of Egyptian cinema history through a photographic legacy spanning 70 years and bringing together his own work and that of his late father, photographer Hussein Bakr. Their work has contributed to documenting numerous cinematic productions and prominent figures in Egyptian entertainment. The exhibition offers audiences an opportunity to discover this rich visual heritage, which spans generations of photographic practice, revealing how photographs have become invaluable records preserving the memory of films, the faces of celebrated artists, and the behind-the-scenes world of Egyptian cinema.
Commenting on the significance of the exhibitions, Marwa Aboul Leila said: “Photography has an extraordinary ability to preserve details that memory may eventually lose and to bring history back to life through small, deeply human moments. Through these exhibitions, we want to give audiences the opportunity to discover Egyptian, Arab, and international stories, while creating a space for dialogue between memory, heritage, and contemporary artistic perspectives.”
She added that the exhibitions highlight photography’s role in documenting cultural identity, connecting different generations with the memory of art and society, and opening up new possibilities for visual storytelling.
El Gouna Photo Week returns to the Red Sea destination after a four-year hiatus with a new edition organised by Photopia from December 3 to 12, 2026. The event will bring together photographers, artists, and photography enthusiasts from Egypt, France, Italy, the United Kingdom, Saudi Arabia, and other countries.
Building on the success of its inaugural edition in 2022, the second edition continues the initiative’s vision of creating a space that brings established photographers together with emerging talent. It aims to provide opportunities for learning, knowledge exchange, showcasing creative work, and building connections with professionals across the creative industries.
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