Novosibirsk State Technical University (NETI), together with photographer Alexander Ivanov, prepared and held a photo exhibition "African Beauty".
The exhibition included 23 portraits of African students of Novosibirsk universities in national clothes. The models were students of NSTU-NETI, RANHIGS, NGPU, NGMU, NGUEU, NGASU, NGAU.
"Last year we collaborated with photographer Alexander Ivanov on the Multinational NSTU-NETI project," said Vadim Nekrasov, Head of the International Cooperation Department. — That exhibition aroused great interest and became a real decoration of the NETI campus. This year, I invited Alexander to continue and develop the topic, since many universities in Novosibirsk accept more and more students from the African continent, actively participating in the educational consortium of universities in Russia and African countries."
According to the organizers, the African Beauty photo exhibition is an opportunity to immerse yourself in the diversity of cultures of French-speaking Africa. Portraits in national clothes allow you not only to see faces, but also to discern the traditions and customs of the peoples of Africa. Each photo is like a window into a cultural world full of unique details and features.
"I have been engaged in ethnography and studying the culture of representatives of different nationalities since 2017," said the author of the portraits, Alexander Ivanov. — My other hobby, photography, has also found its application in this passion. I started creating portraits of people in traditional costumes, using the lens as a bridge between cultures. Novosibirsk residents and guests of the city could see the photo portraits of representatives of different nationalities created by me on the subway, at the NSTU-NETI, and, of course, I was pleased to respond to the offer to shoot a series of portraits "Beauty in African", which was demonstrated at UchSib.
According to the organizers, over 10 thousand people visited the exhibition during the three days of the forum and many left the most enthusiastic reviews about what they saw.
It is known that representatives of more than 120 different nationalities live in Novosibirsk alone. Some of the current African students came on the recommendation of friends who enrolled several years ago. The models of the African Beauty project told why they decided to study in Novosibirsk: a large selection of specialties, experienced teachers, a high level of training, a lot of practice. This is what Van Cheikne, a NSTU-NETI student from Mali said: "The university provides excellent opportunities for development and becoming a qualified specialist. There are highly qualified teachers who generously share their knowledge and experience. The educational process is full of practical exercises, which allows you to immediately consolidate the theory in practice. I am sure that the knowledge gained at NSTU-NETI will help me achieve success in my professional career."
Exhibitions like "African Beauty" create a comfortable space for an intercultural dialogue. Moreover, as Alexander Ivanov noted, Russia and Africa have long—standing historical, political and cultural ties, because even the most famous Russian poet Alexander Pushkin is a quarter Ethiopian.