Emirates NBD celebrates the spirit of the Holy Month with photography exhibition titled “Supplications”

Emirates NBD, a leading bank in the region, announced today that it is celebrating the spirit of the Holy Month of Ramadan with a photography exhibition titled ‘Supplications,’ which means humble request or prayer. 

The month-long exhibition which began on July 22, 2012 is being held at the Empty Quarter gallery in the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) and showcases the first solo exhibition of Swedish photographer Katarina Premfors. The exhibition reflects the many facets of Ramadan, combining Premfors’ passion for photography with an active involvement in humanitarian causes. The exhibition will be moved to the Emirates NBD headquarters in time to welcome and celebrate Eid Al Fitr, where it will be displayed for two more weeks. 

Speaking about the exhibition, Saif Al Mansoori, Deputy Head - Group Marketing and Branding, Emirates NBD, said: “Ramadan is the time for the entire community to come together in prayer, charity, goodwill and celebration. And what better way to uphold the traditional significance of the holy month than to capture its unique spirit through photography. Emirates NBD is proud to work closely with Brownbook magazine to support, ‘Supplications,’ an exhibition of photographic art through the month of Ramadan. We also consider this a part of our social initiatives to give back to the community and to enable everyone to share in the true meaning of Ramadan.” 

The exhibition is being rolled out in partnership with Brownbook magazine, the event’s curators. Headquartered in the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC), Brownbook is a bi-monthly magazine with the stated objective to re-introduce the Middle East to itself. Offering extensive coverage about lifestyle, design, architecture and travel in the Middle East, the magazine is an essential guide to the region. 

Anna Seaman, the editor of Brownbook, said: “We thank Emirates NBD for supporting this exhibition, through which Brownbook seeks to continue what we have always strived for - to present different perspectives of local culture and life in all its nuances. Apart from joining into the spirit of the occasion and exploring options to contribute to charity, this exhibition will enable people to look at Ramadan through the eyes of an artist who has captured the spirit of the month.”  

The highlight of the photography exhibition includes two Suhoor Nights, during which local celebrity figures will talk about Ramadan from their angle of work and occupation. The second Suhoor Night will also feature a silent auction in which guests can bid for the art works, with all proceeds going to Social Bandage, a local charity that is designed to conduct medical campaigns targeting the Emirati society. At both the Suhoor Nights, selected guests will be asked to express their views on Ramadan, what it means to them and how it affects their lives. 

Aisha Harib, Founder of the charity Social Bandage said: “Our aim is to educate and raise awareness about health-related issues among the younger generation. This will be achieved through initiating a series of different campaigns, each with their own designated goal.”