The exhibition “Algerian Sahara” officially presented on the 14th of December at the Gallery ’73.
The exhibition “Algerian Sahara” showcases the work of fine art photographers Jovan Ikonomovski and Vladimir Rajković and presents photo impressions of the Algerian Sahara, the largest desert in Africa. The organiser is the Association of Friends of Algeria, in cooperation with the Gallery ’73 and with the support of the Čukarica Municipality.
This exhibition presents photo impressions collected at the beginning of 2023, during a two-week journey to this largest African country, when a group of Serbian mountaineers travelled to Algeria in the organisation of the “Azimut” Hiking Society and revealed the Algerian Sahara – its natural beauties, but also art cave paintings of the people of Algeria. The photographers visited Djanet, located in southeastern Algeria and its immediate vicinity, and the Tassili n’Ajjer, the home of thousands of cave drawings and petroglyphs. North of Djanet, photographers toured the Essendilene Canyon and the Erg Adamer dunes. Photographers, in a unique way, approached the desert beauty, which, for the most part, is located in Algeria.
Since Algeria is unknown to many, this exhibition aims to discover Algeria and all its beauties because Algeria, due to the size of its territory and numerous attractions, is rightly said to be a continent.
At the opening of the exhibition, H.E. Mr. Fatah Mahraz held a welcoming speech for everyone that came to see the wonders of unique Algerian landscapes:
“Dear colleagues Ambassadors,
Dear Mr.Marko Jelic, President of the Association of Algeria Friends,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Dear friends of Algeria,
Dear guests,
First of all, allow me to welcome you, in my capacity of Ambassador of Algeria to Serbia, to the opening of the exhibition of photographs on the Algerian Sahara, captured by two great travelers, hikers and photographers Mr. Ikonomovski and Mr.Rayković, during their trip to Algeria, earlier this year.
Although the largest hot desert in the world, the Sahara covers large parts of 10 countries and one territory, connoisseurs and desert enthusiasts are unanimous that its most impressive landscapes are located on the Algerian territory.
Thousands of square kilometers of dunes, mountains and rocks in the Algerian Sahara are breathtaking in their magnificence as testified by the photographs exposed.
Algeria, the largest country in Africa, has a variety of landscapes, the sea with 1200 km of Mediterranean coastline, snowy mountain peaks, plateaux but also thousands years of history at the crossroad of different civilizations.
Seven cultural and natural landmarks in Algeria are recognized as UNESCO World Heritage Sites, among which Tassili n’Ajjer, a peculiar collection of rock structures eroded by wind and sand during several centuries into unusual and unique shapes.
Before closing and given that a picture tells more than a thousand words, I would like to express special thanks to Mr.Marko Jelić chairman of the Association of Algeria Friends for initiating this exhibition, the municipality of Tchoukaritza (Čukarica) for its generous grant as well as the Gallery 73 and its staff for hosting and organizing this event.
Once again thank you all for being with us today.”
