Photography As Visual Language Shines At Xposure 2026 With Sharjah Childrens Shura Council

Children from the Sharjah Children’s Shura Council used Xposure 2026 to explain how photography works as a shared language. The panel underlined how images support self-expression, emotional communication, and cultural memory, while also arguing that young people in the UAE already help shape visual narratives usually linked with professional adults.

The discussion took place on the Hadara Stage at Xposure 2026, moderated by Humaid Al Zaabi, Chairman of the Sharjah Children’s Shura Council. The panel included Deputy Chairman Abida Al Dhahouri, Secretary Reem Abdullah Al Naqbi, General Rapporteur Khalid Al Naqbi, and members Jouri Al Zaabi, Mohammed Al Mazrouei and Maitha Al Mazrouei. Humaid told the audience: "We are here to share with you a true picture of the future. They say that children should only be seen and not heard, but we are here to map the future, express our hopes and ideas, and build community under wise leadership. We help you see things through our eyes."

Throughout the session, speakers described children as both creators and interpreters of images whose insights matter for future policy and cultural debate. They stressed that photographs used in homes, schools and social media also act as a form of civic participation, with the panel framing photography as a responsibility shared across generations.

Abida opened the thematic discussion by focusing on photography as a universal language. Abida said: "A picture speaks all the languages of the world. It doesn’t need an interpreter or translator. Pictures speak to the common feelings of all humans. One photo literally speaks a thousand words. We all look at photos, but we see them through the lens of our age, experience, and maturity. But pictures have a common language, whatever the viewer’s age and nationality." Abida linked this idea to communication between different communities in the UAE and abroad.

Reem then examined how photographs deal with emotion, both when they are taken and when they are viewed. Reem said: "We take pictures when we are happy, when we are passionate, enthusiastic during travels. Pictures are not only memories, but they also express our internal feelings - whether it is happiness, sadness, or something special. Every picture has a story." Reem highlighted that such stories can influence how families and societies remember events.

Jouri guided the conversation towards cultural identity using images of Emiratis at work and home, including traditional crafts, a grandmother preparing a food item, and a young man embracing an elder. Jouri said: "When we look at these pictures, we understand the traditions, habits, and customs that shape people’s lives, and the identity that comes with them." The examples showed how everyday scenes help explain social values to younger audiences.

Khalid built on this focus by describing photography as a form of historical evidence for the UAE. Khalid said: "Photos document the history of our country and nation, and represent our culture and traditions. They show the new generation the past and history of our country, and we derive our identity from it." Khalid added that such images could help future students and researchers examine social and economic change.

Photography and Xposure 2026 in global context

Maitha addressed imagination and how viewers construct meaning from images. Maitha said: "When we see a picture, we recreate it in our imagination. It helps us see the world, live the world, and tell us stories. The story is the beginning of every beautiful idea," she said. Maitha linked this process to how children plan projects and creative work.

Mohammed closed the panel by showing three widely recognised photographs: cherry blossoms in Japan, the Statue of Liberty in New York, and a caravan of camels in front of the pyramids in Egypt. These examples illustrated how one picture can evoke a full sense of place, history and culture. The session ended with the panel presenting young people in the UAE as guardians of memory and culture, suggesting that photography supports a long-term record for future generations.

With inputs from WAM