Reza Daqati: My Photos Reflect the Shared Pain of Humanity

The exhibition titled 'Dream of Humanity' is being held in Paris by Iranian photographer Reza Daqati starting from Monday, August 2. Alongside Daqati's photographs, images of Syrian refugee children are also displayed, taken by photographers trained by Daqati. In the brochure for the exhibition, Daqati writes that the photo exhibition 'Dream of Humanity,' dedicated to refugees worldwide, revolves around seven key words: 'solidarity, dignity, respect, friendship, hospitality, peace, and hope.' In an interview with Radio Farda, Daqati elaborates on the significance of the exhibition's location, which is along the Seine River between the Louvre and Orsay museums, a place frequented by millions of Parisians and tourists. The exhibition runs from July 24 to October 15 and consists of three sections: one featuring Daqati's own work from over 35 years, another with photographs by Ali bin Thalith, who captured images of Syrian children in a refugee camp, and the third showcasing photographs taken by twenty Syrian refugee children whom Daqati has been teaching photography for the past year and a half. Daqati emphasizes that his work transcends mere photography; he sees himself as a storyteller of humanity's plight. He aims to raise awareness about the refugee crisis, which affects over 150 million people globally. He believes that his photographs represent the shared pain of humanity, echoing the sentiment of the Iranian poet Ahmad Shamlu, who said, 'I cry out my shared pain.'