NOOR

We are pleased to announce that Najla Said (), selected by NOOR for the CROSS-LOOKING residency programme, presents her first solo exhibition 'What Remains at the Table' throughout May 2026 at Bisabab Leila in Berlin. The works were developed following her residency in Yerevan in September 2025 as part of .

Najla Said’s practice moves between documentation and experimentation. Using analog processes such as cyanotypes, chlorophyll prints, and liquid emulsions, her photographs shift and fade over time, reflecting the fragile nature of memory.

The exhibition traces connections between food, migration, and memory through experimental photographic processes and research into the shared histories embedded in bastirma. To visit the exhibition, please send a DM to Bisabab Leila (.leila) to make an appointment.

CROSS-LOOKING: East-West Artistic Residencies is a collaboration between NOOR images, Organ Vida International Photography Festival, National Gallery of Armenia, Université Paris Cité, Unione della Romagna Faentina, and Università Iuav di Venezia, co-funded by Creative Europe.

Images by Najla Said.

Raisan Hameed, a Rome residency participant for NOOR, works between personal memory and collective history. He uses damaged family photographs, digital fragments, and incomplete archives, not to restore them but to stay with their gaps. Loss is not something to fix; it is something to read. The image becomes fragile and unreliable, shaped as much by what is missing as by what remains.

Raisan Hameed () and Nazanin Hafez’s () duo exhibition 'Re-Trace' opened in Berlin at SETAREH () . If you happen to be in Berlin, do not miss it, on view until 13 June.

Image by Raisan Hameed.

Yesterday at Dam Square in front of the Royal Palace in Amsterdam, thousands of children’s shoes were placed to commemorate the approximately 20,000 children who have been killed in the war against Gaza and its people.

All the names were read out.

The memorial protest, organised by the Plant an Olive Tree Foundation, seeks to highlight the scale of child casualties and bring visibility to their loss in a public space.

We stand against the killing of civilians, especially children and journalists.

Photo by Kadir van Lohuizen (Kadir van Lohuizen)

The Rome chapter of 'Cross-Looking: East–West Artistic Residencies' has come to a close. Following earlier residencies in Yerevan, Istanbul, and Cairo, this final stage in Rome, which took place between 16 and 27 March, brought together six participants, continuing the project’s aim of creating new work across different cultural contexts.

The residency was guided by tutor Luca Nostri (.nostri) and shaped by the creative direction of Andrea Savorani Neri (), with the participation of filmmaker Olga Kravets (). The artists in Rome were Raisan Hameed (), Donja Nasseri (), Nazik Armenakyan (), Solen Lagadec (.If), Bruno Camargo (), and Emma Graziani ().

Thank you to all the artists, tutors, collaborators, and partners who contributed to this final chapter and to the entire CROSS-LOOKING () journey.

CROSS-LOOKING is a collaborative initiative between NOOR, Organ Vida International Photography Festival () , National Gallery of Armenia () , Université Paris Cité (), Unione della Romagna Faentina (), and Università Iuav di Venezia () , and is co-funded by Creative Europe.

The project is based on an original idea by Andrea Savorani Neri and developed from his photographic research tracing the journeys of his ancestors, the painter Salvatore Valeri and the photographer Gabriel Lekegian.

1) Photo by Raisan Hameed, Embers of Narrative
2) Group photo from the residency in Rome
3) Visit to the studio of photographer Francesco Zizola ()

How far would you go to witness a disappearing world? In the documentary ‘𝗙𝗿𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗶𝗲: 𝗧𝗶𝗰𝗸𝗲𝘁 𝗻𝗮𝗮𝗿 𝗔𝗻𝘁𝗮𝗿𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗮 / 𝗙𝗿𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗲: 𝗧𝗶𝗰𝗸𝗲𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝗔𝗻𝘁𝗮𝗿𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗮’ (𝗽𝗮𝗿𝘁 𝟭), journalist Bram Vermeulen and photographer-filmmaker Kadir van Lohuizen () explore luxury tourism, climate change, and one of Earth’s last pristine landscapes.

The premiere takes place on 26 March at 20:00 at Pakhuis de Zwijger () , Amsterdam. Free entrance. Reserve your tickets here: https://dezwijger.nl/programma/ticket-naar-antarctica

VPRO will also broadcast the documentary film 𝗙𝗿𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗲: 𝗧𝗶𝗰𝗸𝗲𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝗔𝗻𝘁𝗮𝗿𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗮 (𝗽𝗮𝗿𝘁 𝟭) on Thursday, 26 March at 20:25 on NPO 2 and via NPO Start, in Dutch. Find the link here: https://www.vpro.nl/frontlinie/artikelen/ticket-naar-antarctica-deel-1.

Photo by Kadir van Lohuizen, ‘Frontlinie: Ticket naar Antarctica’

For those of you in Berlin,
On Monday, 2 March 2026, Kadir van Lohuizen () will be in Berlin to present his long-term project and book 'Food for Thought', a powerful global investigation into our industrialised food systems.

Through photography, data, and on-the-ground reporting, van Lohuizen traces the full chain of food production and distribution, from Kenya and the United States to Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, China, and the Netherlands.

Kadir will be in conversation with Joerg Geier (ANSC). The evening will be musically accompanied by Bakr Khleifi.

Hotel Pullman
Budapester Str. 25
10787 Berlin

An evening to look beyond the plate and into the systems that feed the world. For more info, check the link: https://artsandnaturesocialclub.org/
Photo by Kadir van Lohuizen, 'Food for Thought'.

NOOR Foundation presents works by Justin Makangara (), Massow Ka () and Fabrice Mbonankira () from the 'Advanced Visual Storytelling' programme in Côte d’Ivoire at the Chocolonely Foundation presentation during Chocoa Fair (Amsterdam Cocoa Week).

𝗗𝗮𝘁𝗲𝘀: 𝟭𝟴–𝟮𝟮 𝗙𝗲𝗯𝗿𝘂𝗮𝗿𝘆
𝗟𝗼𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻: 𝗕𝗲𝘂𝗿𝘀 𝘃𝗮𝗻 𝗕𝗲𝗿𝗹𝗮𝗴𝗲, 𝗔𝗺𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗱𝗮𝗺

Realised in 2023 with the support of the Chocolonely Foundation, the programme brought together ten photographers from West Africa, who documented the cocoa-growing communities in Amanikro. Last year, the works from the programme travelled through rural Côte d’Ivoire in collaboration with as part of the exhibition 'Celebrating Communities', allowing them to be shared directly with the communities they document and creating meaningful engagement and dialogue.

The works on display at Chocoa Fair (.nl) represent a small part of the larger exhibition, offering an intimate glimpse into life in cocoa-growing communities. It was especially important to share these stories with the people shaping the cocoa industry. Thanks to the Chocolonely Foundation () for their support.

Captions:
1) Photo: © Justin Makangara: His shotgun leaning against the wall, a cocoa farmer is pictured in front of his house. As cocoa cultivation declines, the local population is turning to alternative means of subsistence such as hunting and agroforestry. Amanikro, Côte d’Ivoire, 2023.
2)Photo: © Massow Ka: By stepping away from portraiture, the images seek another way to honour the workers, exploring the deep connection between manual labour and identity. Amanikro, Côte d’Ivoire, 2023.
3) Photo: © Fabrice Mbonankira: Women in the village work together, often balancing their responsibilities while caring for their children. Amanikro, Côte d’Ivoire, 2023.

𝗜𝗳 𝘆𝗼𝘂’𝗿𝗲 𝗶𝗻 𝗖𝗮𝗶𝗿𝗼, 𝘆𝗼𝘂’𝗿𝗲 𝗶𝗻𝘃𝗶𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝗷𝗼𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗖𝗿𝗼𝘀𝘀-𝗟𝗼𝗼𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗽𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮𝘁 𝟲 𝗽𝗺 (𝗖𝗮𝗶𝗿𝗼 𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗲) 𝗮𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗜𝘁𝗮𝗹𝗶𝗮𝗻 𝗔𝗿𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗲𝗼𝗹𝗼𝗴𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝗖𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗿𝗲 ().

CROSS-LOOKING is an artistic residency programme based on an original idea by Andrea Savorani Neri (), developed through his photographic research following in the footsteps of his ancestors: painter Salvatore Valeri (1856–1946) and photographer Gabriel Lekegian (1853–1920). Cairo is one of the key locations of Andrea’s visual research and of the project as a whole.

After Yerevan and Istanbul, the Cross-Looking () residency programme continues in Cairo (17–28 January), bringing together six young editors with the support of Creative Europe.

During the presentation, Andrea will be joined by Omniya Abde ( ), architect and historian of Islamic art and mentor of the Cross-Looking Cairo residency; Paolo Girardelli () , Professor of Art and Architectural History at Boğaziçi University and mentor of the Cross-Looking Istanbul residency; Francis Amin () , photography historian and Honorary Consul of Italy in Luxor; and Giuseppe Cecere (.cecerecairo , Professor of Arabic Language and Literature at the University of Bologna and coordinator of the Archaeological Centre of the Italian Cultural Institute. Join us!

All Photos and captions:
© Andrea Savorani Neri, Cairo, Egypt, June 2025.
1-2) Artisans' workshop inside a building attached to the Beyt Al-Razzez residence, photographed in the late 19th century by Gabriel Lekegian.
3) Mr Mahmoud Sabit, descendant of Mohammed Ali Pasha, Ottoman Albanian viceroy and governor who became the de facto ruler of Egypt from 1805 to 1848, at the gate of the family house.
4) Armenian Cemetery.
5) The Beyt Al-Razzez residence, photographed in the late 19th century by Gabriel Lekegian.

The Great Plain stretches across more than two-thirds of Hungary. Over generations, it has been reshaped to meet human needs. Rivers straightened, marshes drained, water redirected through dikes and canals. These quiet interventions have left the land acutely vulnerable to a changing climate. The people who still live here remain bound to their land. Solitude, unfulfilled dreams, and the will to survive shape them, just as the Plain itself endures.

'What Remains in the End' captures this world. Through five award-winning series by NOOR alumni Balázs Zsolt, the photobook reflects the resilience of both the land and its people.

This book is not about catastrophe. It is about adaptability, struggle, endurance, and humanity. A remembrance of water and our most intimate relationship with it.

Only 3 pre-orders left. When they’re gone, they’re gone. Secure your copy now.
https://www.ulule.com/what-remains---photobook/

Can shrimp really help rice grow and support the environment? In Vietnam’s Mekong Delta, farmers are making it happen with the help of Combi-Tracks, a Dutch programme that connects entrepreneurship with long-term social and environmental impact, through “The shrimp hugs the rice plant.” With this model, by letting saltwater in for shrimp during the dry season and fresh water for rice in the rainy season, they triple rice yields and nearly double shrimp output.

Giant freshwater prawns thrive alongside rice, feeding on organic matter while the plants help clean the water. This is an holistic approach where economic vitality, community well-being, and environmental stewardship come together.

Through collaboration across borders and sectors, the project highlights innovative solutions that respond to climate challenges while empowering local farmers. As a living example of sustainable aquaculture, it invites us to reflect on how tradition and innovation can unite to nurture both people and the planet.

Our second Combi-Tracks story, “The shrimp hugs the rice plant: a climate-smart dance of salt and freshwater in Vietnam’s Mekong Delta,” photographed by Thanh Hue (), is part of the 'Shared Horizons' exhibition, presented at the Dutch Embassy in South Africa () in November, both physically and online. Commissioned by the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs, produced by RVO, and realised by NOOR Images.

Captions are in the first comment. Read more via the link: https://static1.squarespace.com/static/58cfbd7f20099e8bad829da6/t/690384bb7aee1d0a9ea14e26/1761838267452/Online+Exhibiti_Shared+Horizons-1.pdf?fbclid=IwY2xjawPArgpleHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETAzNXV6bzU0aDl6bGJycUZIc3J0YwZhcHBfaWQQMjIyMDM5MTc4ODIwMDg5MgABHk5r4KFkO_LiIzISTYN79OJD0_kqzOutIeA7WoyGwImZ0nrOLr21LoRxLVHI_aem_Qm78OmaQeXkiGLFoA0JiEQ

Across different corners of the world, communities are reshaping how they grow, produce, and build their futures with the help of Combi-Tracks, a Dutch programme that connects entrepreneurship with long-term social and environmental impact.

Three Combi-Tracks stories were presented at the Dutch Embassy in South Africa () in Pretoria in November, both as a physical and online exhibition. The exhibition 'Shared Horizons' was commissioned by the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs, produced by the Netherlands Enterprise Agency (RVO), and realised by NOOR Images.

Our first story photographed by Olivier Khouadiani (), 𝗢𝗿𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗲 𝗖𝗼𝗰𝗼𝗮 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗯𝗶-𝗧𝗿𝗮𝗰𝗸 𝗶𝗻 𝗖𝗼̂𝘁𝗲 𝗱’𝗜𝘃𝗼𝗶𝗿𝗲: 𝗙𝗮𝗿𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗙𝘂𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲 takes us to Côte d’Ivoire. Here, local cocoa processing ensures that more value stays where the beans are harvested, instead of being exported raw and support the community.

Farmers in Dema 2 share how the Combi-Track initiative has made a difference. The juice production provides additional income, helping them support their families during periods of low activity before the cocoa beans are dried. By valuing every part of the cocoa bean, farmers increase profitability without expanding their crops. This reduces pressure on surrounding forests and supports more sustainable agricultural practices.

🔗 Read more via the link:https://static1.squarespace.com/static/58cfbd7f20099e8bad829da6/t/690384bb7aee1d0a9ea14e26/1761838267452/Online+Exhibiti_Shared+Horizons-1.pdf