CLEAN : Photography from the Middle East

The project, initiated in 2009 by the VNA and the British Museum, aims to create a collection of contemporary Middle Eastern photography, covering a broad geographic area from North Africa to Central Asia. The exhibition highlights a self-conscious approach to photography, reflecting its power and vulnerability in the Middle East. The works often critique and resist manipulation, showing that these themes have been present long before 2010.

When did the VNA and the British Museum start their project on contemporary Middle Eastern photography?

• 2005

• 2012

• 2015

• 2009

What is a common theme in contemporary Middle Eastern photography according to the exhibition?

• Traditional portraits

• Abstract art

• Self-consciousness about photography

• Colorful landscapes

Why is photography considered powerful in the Middle Eastern context?

• It is expensive to produce

• It can be quickly disseminated and understood

• It is rarely used

• It is always accurate

What vulnerability of photography is highlighted in the exhibition?

• It can be censored and used for propaganda

• It can be easily lost

• It is difficult to interpret

• It fades over time

What does the exhibition suggest about the themes of resistance and critique?

• They are no longer relevant

• They are unique to the Middle East

• They have been present for a long time

• They emerged suddenly in 2010