In cooperation with the French Consulate General in Jerusalem and the French Center in Nablus, a workshop was organized for the French Photographer, Alexis Cordesse at the Faculty of Fine Arts, New Campus. Mr. Abdel Hakeem Al- Sabbah, Cultural and Art Activities Officer at the French Cultural Center, and members of the Center in Nablus accompanied Cordesse.
The delegation was received by Dr. Hasan N’erat, Dean of the Faculty of Fine Arts at An-Najah, Lina Harb, Head of the Plastic Art Department, and Ahmed El-Haj Hamad, Activities and Workshops Coordinator at the Faculty. Dr. N’erat welcomed Cordesse to the Faculty and valued his interest to visit the University and meet its staff and students. He also emphasized the unique relationships between the Faculty and the French Consulate and the French Cultural Center in Nablus which has yielded fruitful cooperation between Palestine and France.
In his meeting with the students Cordesse first spoke about his beginnings in photography and the evolution of his artistic vision in the field of photography, in addition to the concepts and basics he learned earlier in his career.
Moreover, he spoke about his journeys to the different parts of the world where he took photos of so many unique events which have greatly influenced his vision and the way the world is seen. He also said that photographers must keep themselves updated on the various technological advancements in photography so as to effectively serve their ideas.
Furthermore, Cordesse discussed with the students the different techniques in taking photos and the aesthetic dimension of photography. He also explained the intellectual dimensions in photos and the message each conveys to people.
After the workshop, the delegation visited the different parts of the Faculty; Cordesse expressed his pleasure to be in Palestine and to have the chance to meet with the students. He also praised the advanced level that An-Najah has achieved and expressed interest in holding an exhibition showing his photography at the Faculty.
Cordesse began his photographer's career in 1991, as a reporter, at the age of 20. His pictures were published in the French and foreign press. After these first years of initiation, he went away from the practice of photojournalism and started using new medias and supports, as the cinema or the installation.
