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MM. Mohamed El Aziz Ben Achour, Minister of Culture and the Preservation of Monuments, and Robert F. Godec, Ambassador of the United States of America in Tunisia, inaugurated yesterday evening at the National Library of Tunisia, a photo exhibition entitled”The architectural heritage of New York”, in the presence of men of culture and diplomats accredited to Tunis.

This exhibition is organized by the Ministry of Culture and the Preservation of Monuments and the National Cultural Committee, in collaboration with the Embassy of the United States of America.

It is an exhibition, which includes about 80 black and white photos, framed and accompanied by captions that provide lighting cultural, historical and architectural on public and private buildings in New York City, restored during the 20th century by American and European architects.

The photographs were taken by some fifty known photographers or single students who have captured the spirit of New York.

These photos, it was Roosevelt””Birth Place, a national historic site, built in 1848 and expanded in 1916,””Central Park, the first large public park that combines beautifully of architectural and landscape features, Patrik””’s Cathedral, the largest cathedral in the United States,”and”Columbia University, the oldest college in New York State.

Included on the bill as”New York Exchange Building”or Wall Street, the first center of financial activity in New York,””Flatiron Building, a skyscraper, the most famous and eccentric that City and Manhattan Bridge Approach”or”the Manhattan Bridge established on the East River.

On this occasion, Mr. Ben Achour focused on the long relationships between Tunisia and the United States of America, especially in the cultural field, expressing his admiration for the rich cultural and architectural heritage of American cities, including New York.
For his part, Mr. Robert F. Godec welcomed the achievements made by Tunisia in all fields, noting that this event is in line with the fruitful cultural exchange between the two countries.

GoGozo and its trip leaders put a distinct emphasis on fun, adventure and awareness building. With such exciting activities as riding camels in Tunisia, visiting the Star Wars filming site, or the nightly Balzan street festivals, there is much to experience.

Photographic instruction, including darkroom developing and computer manipulation, is an ongoing backdrop to our adventures. Students are encouraged to carry their cameras at all times and to experiment with new cameras including rudimentary pinholes, and single-use cameras.

…Born August 7, 1969, in Tunis, Gomri obtained a diploma in life and earth sciences and worked as a high school teacher in Tunis.

Involved in various projects from the beginning of his JCI career, Gomri became JCI Rades President in 1996…

Why is Gomri Involved in photography?

“My father was an amateur photographer,†says the past JCI Vice President. “As a child, I used to ‘play’ with his black and white pictures. Since then, I loved this ‘magical machine’ and started using it later. I also welcomed and adapted to the arrival of digital photography.â€

Gomri considers photography a passion. “It’s a way to express thoughts, ideas, and opinions,†he says. “It’s a wonderful tool that lets you share unique and unforgettable moments, places and situations with others.â€

He also considers photography a means to promote social progress. “Photography is a very powerful tool,†says Gomri. “As an intern in a Non Governmental Organization (NGO) in Washington, D.C., I was amazed to see projects involving youth and photography to deal with issues like corruption and conflict resolution.â€

When asked for advice on how to succeed in photography, Gomri said, “There is no mystery with photography. Just like anything in life, to succeed you have to love what you’re doing and be yourself.â€

Why the Exhibit in Washington, D.C.?

Gomri loves Tunisia. “I live in a nice country, small but diverse and full of colors and light,†he says. “I wanted to share this diversity with Americans, interest them in my country, and make them curious and willing to discover Tunisia. I will also try to deliver my view of my country to the visitors of the exhibition.â€

“My humble goal is to contribute, through photography, to building cultural bridges and enhancing understanding and dialogue between citizens of the United States and Tunisia,†explains Gomri. “More dialogue and more exchanges remove fear, misunderstanding and seeds of conflicts, and contribute to a better world. I also hope to break many stereotypes on both sides and contribute to dialogue through photography.â€

Born in 1958 in Tunisia, Jellel Gastelli graduated in 1985 from the Ecole Nationale de la Photographie in Paris, where he currently resides with his family. In 1984 he travelled back to Tunisia and began his White Series (Série Blanche) . In 1990 he travelled to Alexandria, Egypt as French Cultural Centre artist -in-residence. That same year Gastelli received grants from the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs and from Kodak-Pathé, which allowed him to produce a photographic series on the city of Tangiers, Morocco and he published a book on this work in 1991.

Jellel describes his work as follows:

From time to time, ever since 1984, I have photographed the medium of Hammamet and the architecture of Djerba Islands mosques. I seek to capture the purity of the walls, covered with several coats of white-wash and to reduce buildings to their underlying cubic shapes. I inscribe in these images the sensations provoked by the tension between lines and surfaces saturated with light. Their multiple geometric combinations imperceptibly make their way toward abstraction. I play at replacing static prespective with dynamic flat surfaces. Although I was not aware of it when I began them, I realise now that in these very large prints, making up what I call the White Series (Série Blanche) I endeavoured to capture the intense pure spirit of place that I associate with my Tunisian childhood.

Jellel Gastelli’s Séries Blache has been exhibited at the Guggenheim as well as being part of their permanent collection in New York.