by Marija Milovanović Maksimović, GPU Secretary General
GPU organized and displayed the 50 members’ printed photos at the exhibition at “Gallery 1969” in the city center of Baku, Azerbaijan, with the courtesy of Rauf Umudov and AFB- Azerbaijan Photographers Association (Azərbaycan Fotoqrafları Birliyi) who welcomed us with the great hospitality. The works displayed at the exhibition were from 50 GPU members, all from different countries and with the works internationally recognized.
The AFB vice president Rauf Umudov opened the exhibition and GPU president Manolis Metzakis gave a speech about GPU and its members and introduced Mr. Umudov as the new GPU representative for Azerbaijan, pointing out his significant role in the future of GPU in Azerbaijan as well as in the organization of this event. During the opening ceremony Mr Mirnaib Hasanoglu, the AFB president also gave a speech, as well as some other respectable older generation photographers. We want to thank also Mr. Nurlan Tahirli, who was in the organization and he ensured that everything is going smoothly as our guide and translator.
The same day, GPU governing board members and Mr. Rauf Umudov were hosted in the TV show on the national frequency, talking about culture, photography and GPU’s place on the worldwide stage.
On the 20th October, our host organized the meeting of local photographers and GPU in Ataturk Merkezi center, where governing board members (Manolis Metzakis, Claudio Calosi, John Law, Marija Milovanović Maksimović, Saeed al Shamsi, Freddy Laheye and Guo Jing) of GPU held the presentation about our association and also the presentation of AFB was shown by the president of Azerbaijani photo association, Mirnaib Hasanoglu. A lot of local photographers attended the meeting, as well as the older generation of acclaimed Azerbaijani photographers, which are present on the international and local stage for several decades. Governing board members answered on many questions asked about GPU activity and work, and it was discussed as well about the contemporary photography trends in the world. We were also introduced with Azerbaijani contemporary photographers and their works at 3 exhibitions (one solo and 2 groups), that took place in the center of Baku on those 2 days.
GPU also held the governing board meeting, where new ideas and plans were introduced, new strategies developed, issued discussed, all in favor of future GPU growth and improvement.
With this new activities and meetings, GPU has broadened its community and worldwide coverage, welcoming new countries and more members, allowing more diversity and continuing with new cultural exchanges where all of us are connected not just with common interest photography, but also with the great treasure – friendship.
All photos by Nurlan Tahirli and Guo Jing.
