I restarted my artistic journey in photography as a form of Sufi meditation and a celebration of our similarities and differences as a human race, as well as those in the physical world around us and what they mean. Chaos and harmony work side by side in a tango of diversity and subtle uniformity. To me photography is a way to transcend from mundane existence to spiritual richness.

I am an advocate of the principle concept that photography, in its deepest artistic form, is a three point bridge between the artist, the subject and the eye of the beholder. For my art work to be effective, I try to invoke the feelings of the observer based in her or his own life journey.

This can be seen in the difference subjects of my art work. Whether it is a gentle stream, a crushing wave, a landscape, the lines of a human body, trees as ancient as life itself, the minute details of the smallest creatures or as big as distant stars, or our cosmopolitan human surrounding, I try to find what connects to the viewer and build on it.

Nothing is more enjoying to me than hearing the diverse feelings and interpretations of my art work viewers, based on their experiences. In this, I am a true believer of the words
of Ansel Adams:

"Photography, as a powerful medium of expression and communications, offers an infinite variety of perception, interpretation and execution."

Munir El Kadi is a photographer and photography educator currently based in Vancouver. He was born in Beirut to Iraqi parents. He was strongly influenced by his father's interest in Photography, and his mother's artistic and creative background and surroundings. He started photography at the age of 14 when his father gave him an AE1 Canon film camera. At the age of 17 he had his first photograph published as a cover for Afaq Arabia cultural journal in Iraq. In the early days of digital photography he shifted his interest to documentary film making before moving back into photography in 2008. He has won several international awards including an Honorable Mention in PX3 2016, the Juror of Merit award in the International Fine Art Photography Awards, Paris 2013 and a Special Honorable mention in the IPA Luci Awards in 2012. His works have been exhibited in Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Paris, the Wisbech Museum in Oxfordshire, (UK), the Darkroom Gallery in Vermont (US) as well as in Freiburg, Germany. Munir earned his photography diploma from New Institute of Photography in 2014, aside from his Masters of Science in Physics (1995) and in Information Systems (2010). He worked with names like Ahmed Qabani and Muath Al Alousi from Iraq, and Maurice Weiss from Germany. His projects focus on cultural, environmental and social issues of today’s world. Aside from Photography, Munir interests are in Tango, issues in contemporary education, and philosophy of science. Munir enjoys shooting various concepts including fashion, boudoir, art nude, as well as artistic nature and cityscapes . During his spare time when he is not shooting, he enjoys Argentinian tango dancing, reading and cultural activities.
Munir is an active member in Abu Dhabi Photographers Group and the Wednesday Group in Abu Dhabi, UAE and Shutter Hub in the UK, as well as some West Cost Canadian Photo groups

Mia Von M

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