International exhibition brings together 17 artists from 10 countries as part of Funun Arts Group’s year-long “Eras of Art – A Journey Through Time” program.
Funun Arts Group has presented Beyond the Lens, an international exhibition celebrating photography and digital art at Novotel Sharjah Expo Centre. Opened on 11 September 2026, the exhibition marks an important milestone in the organization’s 10th anniversary year and represents the Digital Art Era within its year-long artistic programmed, “Eras of Art – A Journey Through Time.”
Bringing together 17 artists from 10 countries, Beyond the Lens explores the evolving relationship between photography, technology, and contemporary visual expression. From images that capture fleeting moments and personal memories to digitally developed works that challenge conventional ways of seeing, the exhibition highlights how artists are using the lens—and increasingly technology—to document, interpret and reimagine the world around them.
The exhibition is particularly significant as the first dedicated photography exhibition presented by Funun Arts Group, extending the organization’s platform beyond traditional and contemporary visual arts into photography and digital practices. It reflects Funun Arts Group’s continuing commitment to embracing diverse creative disciplines while providing artists from different cultures and backgrounds with opportunities for visibility, dialogue, and artistic exchange.
A Distinguished Opening in Sharjah
The opening ceremony brought together artists, cultural figures, creative professionals, and supporters of the arts from across the UAE.
The occasion was graced by Mr. Farid Ayoub, Consul and Head of Economic, Political and Public Affairs at the Consulate General of Canada in Dubai and the Northern Emirates. Distinguished guests also included Mr. Ahmed Al Awadhi, Emirati artist and entrepreneur; Mr. Naimuddin Syed, Marketing Manager at Ahmed Al Maghribi Perfumes; Ola Allouz, photographer, and founder of Foto UAE; Anjini Prakash Laitu, artist and mentor; and Peter Gressmann, Founder of Artforum UAE.
Their presence added to the exhibition’s spirit of cultural exchange and reflected the growing dialogue between artists, creative communities, cultural organizations, and supporters of the arts within the UAE.
Speaking on the occasion, Shiba Khan, Founder and Director of Funun Arts Group, said:
“Beyond the Lens is especially meaningful as we celebrate ten years of Funun Arts Group. It represents another step in our journey of creating platforms where artists, cultures and creative ideas can connect. Photography gives us the extraordinary ability to preserve a moment while also revealing a completely different way of seeing it.”
Farah Khan, Co-Founder and Creative Head of Funun Arts Group, added:
“Beyond the Lens invites us to look beyond the image and discover the emotion, story and perspective behind it. As photography evolves alongside technology, artists are finding new ways to communicate, experiment and transform visual storytelling.”
Reflecting the importance of collaboration between creative platforms and the wider community, Mr. Naimuddin Syed, Marketing Manager at Ahmed Al Maghribi Perfumes, said:
“We are pleased to support an initiative that brings artists and audiences together and contributes to the UAE’s vibrant creative landscape. Beyond the Lens is a meaningful celebration of photography, creativity and artistic expression.”
17 Artists, 10 Countries, Multiple Perspectives
The international character of Beyond the Lens is central to its identity. Participating artists are Abdulla Ahmed Alblooshi (UAE), Aisha Esmaeilzadeh (Iran), Anjini Prakash Laitu (India), Basma Almuhammady (Egypt), Deepa Girishkumar (India), Dr. A. Nizam Othman (Malaysia), Farah Khan (India), Fatima Ahmed Alqahtani (UAE), Fatima Al Amiri (UAE), Judite Serafim (Portugal), Mahrukh Bari (Pakistan), Marie Lafond (Canada), Mozhgan Afrisham (Iran), Nazanin Kheirkhahan (Iran), Neelima Azad (India), Sonu Sultania (India), and Walid Salih Osman (Sudan).
Together, their works bring different cultural experiences, visual languages, and artistic approaches into one space. Rather than presenting photography simply as documentation, the exhibition positions the medium as a powerful form of contemporary artistic expression—capable of carrying memory, identity, emotion, observation, and imagination.
The exhibition also creates a dialogue between photography and digital art, acknowledging how rapidly visual culture has evolved. Technology has transformed not only how images are created and processed, but also how they are experienced, shared and interpreted by audiences around the world.
Photographer and Foto UAE founder Ola Allouz highlighted the value of creating dedicated platforms for photographers and connecting photographic practices with wider audiences. Digital artist and educator Mozhgan Afrisham also contributed perspectives on the expanding possibilities of digital art and the changing relationship between artistic creativity and technology.
For participating artists, the exhibition offers an opportunity to present individual narratives within a collective international platform. Each work becomes a different way of seeing—demonstrating how a single image can communicate experiences that cross geographical and cultural boundaries.
From the Past to the Digital Era
Beyond the Lens forms part of Funun Arts Group’s broader “Eras of Art – A Journey Through Time” programmed, developed for its 10th anniversary year.
The program explores how artistic expression has evolved across different periods—from historical artistic traditions to modern, contemporary, and digital practices. Within this journey, Beyond the Lens represents the Digital Art Era, placing photography, digital creativity and changing visual technologies at the center of the conversation.
The exhibition therefore goes beyond presenting individual artworks. It asks audiences to consider how the way humanity creates, records and experiences images has changed—and how technology continues to reshape the relationship between the artist, the artwork, and the viewer.
A Decade of Connecting Through Art
Founded in the UAE in 2016 by sisters Shiba Khan and Farah Khan, Funun Arts Group has developed over the past decade into a UAE-based creative enterprise connecting artists, institutions, students and audiences through exhibitions, education, cultural programmes, and community initiatives. Its 10th anniversary programme continues that journey by examining artistic evolution while creating new opportunities for creative participation and cultural exchange.
Funun Arts Group extended its appreciation to Honey Taheri, Founder of Unique Art HT, for her support of Beyond the Lens, and to Novotel Sharjah Expo Centre for hosting the exhibition and continuing to support the organization’s artistic initiatives. The Group also acknowledged its creative partners, participating artists, guests, and supporters whose involvement contributed to the exhibition’s international character.
As Funun Arts Group celebrates a decade of creative engagement, Beyond the Lens reflects both where visual art stands today and where it may be heading next. By bringing photography and digital creativity into its wider exploration of art through time, the exhibition reinforces a central idea behind the anniversary programme: art never remains still—it evolves with people, cultures, technologies, and the ways in which we see the world.
Through Beyond the Lens, audiences are invited not simply to view an image, but to pause, look deeper and discover the stories, perspectives and possibilities that exist beyond the lens.
About Funun Arts Group
Founded in 2016, Funun Arts Group is a UAE-based creative enterprise working at the intersection of art, culture, and education. The organization curates exhibitions, nurtures emerging talent, and delivers end-to-end art solutions for creative and commercial spaces.
With a global network of 3,000+ artists from over 50 nationalities, Funun Arts Group continues to foster cultural dialogue, support artistic communities, and create impactful platforms that connect creativity with purpose.
