Opening in the Midst of a Tropical Summer
Despite the heat outside, the “Matei Stegerean” Gallery of the FIAP Exhibition Center, located in the Princely Palace of Oradea’s Medieval Fortress, proved too small for the large audience attending the opening of the solo exhibition by London-based photographic artist Tamás Tóth (United Kingdom), entitled “Following the Trail of Sugar Cane.” Organized by the International “Euro Foto Art” Association (AIEFA), in partnership with Summit Agro Romania, under the auspices of the International Federation of Photographic Art (FIAP) — an organization recognized by UNESCO — and under the patronage of AIEFA, the exhibition brings together 75 color photographs of various sizes, all created in Uganda. For those unable to visit the gallery in person, the entire collection can also be viewed online on AIEFA’s official website: https://eurofotoart.ro/fiap-galeria-euro-foto-art/expo-foto-art-toth-tamas-gb-pe-drumul-trestiei-de-zahar/ The audience attending the event was welcomed by photographic artist Ștefan Tóth István, AFIAP, EFIAP, Hon. EFIAP, President of AIEFA and curator of the exhibition. In his address, he emphasized that the opening, dedicated to World Photography Day, represents not only a celebration of photographic creation, but also an affirmation of the important role photography plays in the landscape of contemporary art. “Photography, one of the youngest forms of expression in the world of visual art, has succeeded, in a relatively short time, in securing a distinctive place within universal cultural heritage. Through the power of the image, it can document reality, preserve the memory of places and communities, while at the same time transforming everyday life into a genuine artistic experience,” the exhibition curator emphasized. At the conclusion of his speech, the President of AIEFA presented the exhibiting photographic artist with the FIAP Auspices Diploma and Medal, as well as the AIEFA Patronage Certificate. The works were introduced by Assoc. Prof. Dr. Ramona Novicov, art historian and critic, who highlighted the importance of the exhibition as an opportunity to discover and gain a deeper understanding of a fascinating African country. In her remarks, she also drew attention to the diversity of the Tóth family’s creative universe and to the artistic initiatives through which its members contribute to the promotion of contemporary photographic art. Next, Szűcs László, journalist and editor-in-chief of the cultural publication Újvárad, noted that the exhibition’s main strength lies in the distinctive perspective it offers on the Uganda of ordinary people. The artist did not focus on established tourist attractions, nor did he seek spectacular images of mountain gorillas or the shimmering waters of Lake Victoria. Instead, he chose to view the country from a perspective much closer to everyday life. The exhibiting photographic artist spoke about the circumstances that brought him to Uganda and about the opportunity to visit the Kakira distillery. The openness and generosity of the local people allowed him to gain close access to the world of sugar cane, the seemingly endless plantations, and the workers who spend their days laboring there. It is an industry that provides livelihoods for a large number of people. The musical interludes were performed by violist Thurzó Sándor József, who played works from the Ugandan, Romanian, and Hungarian repertoires. The exhibition will remain open until September 1, 2026, and can be visited free of charge on working days between 8:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m., with no admission fee. In its effort to bring art closer to the community, the “Euro Foto Art” Association is continuing its successful partnership with the local public transport operator OTL SA. The exhibited works will therefore also be shown on screens inside Oradea’s public transport vehicles. Through this innovative initiative, photographic art moves beyond the conventional boundaries of the gallery, accompanying passengers through the rhythms of everyday life and transforming an ordinary urban journey into a subtle and authentic encounter with visual culture.
Photos from the opening
Exhibited photos
